Long Developing DC Comics Movie 'Fables' Finally Finds A New Director

nullWhile Warner Bros. waits to see how “Man Of Steel” does in a couple of weeks, which in turn will decide what happens with the massive roster of DC Comics properties they are currently sitting on, it seems some small moves are being made. Stuck in development hell forever, it looks like DC/Vertigo series “Fables” has finally found a helmer…and it’s something of an unlikely choice.

Nikolaj Arcel, who broke out with last year’s lovely and compelling drama “A Royal Affair,” has been tapped to helm “Fables.” But what does a period drama guy know about comic tentpoles? Well, actually, he does have some form with spectacles, having directed 2007’s Danish kids adventure movie “Island Of Lost Souls” (trailer below.) So the idea of him tackling the Bill Willingham-penned series that focuses on characters from folklore — Snow White, Cinderella, Big Bad Wolf, Little Boy Blue, etc — who have been exiled from The Homeland, and are forced to live in New York, isn’t completely outrageous. What’s more, Hollywood is already expecting big things out of Arcel, having given him the gig of remaking Alfred Hitchcock‘s “Rebecca” (good luck.)

Moreover, Arcel will have some support in form of producer David Heyman (the “Harry Potter” series; at one time David Yates was rumored for this project) who is producing, with Jeremy Slater (the upcoming “The Fantastic Four” reboot) penning the script.

Whether this gets anymore traction than previous incarnations, which included an attempt in 2004 with the Jim Henson Company and mooted TV series in 2008, remains to be seen, but with fairy tales are the rage, this has a better chance than ever of going forward. [THR]