Here’s a big deal coming down the wire.
Denis Villeneuve and Legendary Entertainment have optioned Annie Jacobsen‘s nonfiction book “Nuclear War: A Scenario,” with Villeneuve set to direct the adaptation.
The expectation is that Villeneuve would take this one as another giant project after he completes Dune: Messiah, which he and Legendary are developing as the conclusion of the trilogy.
“Nuclear War” just hit The New York Times bestseller list. The book explores a ticking-clock scenario about what would happen in the event of a nuclear war, “based on dozens of exclusive new interviews with military and civilian experts who built the weapons and have been privy to the response plans and have been responsible for those decisions should they need to be made”.
This sounds like a spiritual sequel to “Oppenheimer,” but 60 years later.
This latest news comes as many are wondering what might be Villeneuve’s next film. He has already stated that he having three potential projects as possibilities, including “Cleopatra,” “Rendezvous With Rama,” and a “secret” film that is “time sensitive.”
Yesterday, journalist Henry Arnaud, from Villeneuve’s hometown of Montreal, reported that he had two in-the-know sources telling him that Villeneuve had begun high-level talks with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli to direct the next James Bond. I immediately contacted Villeneuve’s rep for comment who told me the story wasn’t true.
Villenuve’s “Dune: Part Two,” currently in theaters, has grossed $630 million worldwide and has catapulted the Quebecois filmmaker into elite filmmaker status in the industry. The film is predicted to earn many Oscar nominations come next year, including Best Picture and Best Director.