Randall Wallace To Rewrite McG’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
We already know that McG will direct “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo” for Disney but the news is that the Oscar nominated writer Randall Wallace (”Braveheart,” “The Man in the Iron Mask,” “Pearl Harbor,” “We Were Soldiers“) will rewrite the script penned by Justin Marks (”Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li“) and Bill Marsilii (”Deja Vu“).
This new adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” will tell the origin of Captain Nemo and his submarine warship, the Nautilus. Nemo is a mysterious but noble antagonist in the book, a scientific genius with a thirst for knowledge and a desire for revenge against the forces of imperialism.
The 1954 original “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was the first live-action film made by Walt Disney, who famously bet his studio on a movie best remembered for the giant squid scene. It became the second-highest grossing film that year and won three Oscars. Captain Nemo played by James Mason and Ned Land by Kirk Douglas.
McG Will Direct Captain Nemo
Disney has set McG to direct “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo,” a family film that is being fast tracked by the studio.
The 1954 original “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was the first live-action film made by
Walt Disney, who famously bet his studio on a movie best remembered for the giant squid scene. It became the second-highest grossing film that year and won three Oscars. Captain Nemo played by James Mason and Ned Land by Kirk Douglas.
Scripted by Bill Marsilli, the film is an origin story of Nemo as he creates his warship, the Nautilus. The characters come from the Jules Verne novel.
The oceans during the late 1860-92s are no longer safe; many ships have been lost. Sailors have returned to port with stories of a vicious narwhal (a giant whale with a long horn) which sinks their ships. A naturalist, Professor Aronnax, his assistant, Conseil, and a professional whaler, Ned Land, join an US expedition which attempts to unravel the mystery.
McG, who most recently helmed “Terminator Salvation,” had multiple studios vying for his next slot. Disney hopes to make the film this year, before McG returns to helm a “Terminator Salvation” sequel for Warner Bros.
