‘Atlantis Rising’ Signs Writer
Joby Harold will write the screen adaptation of Platinum Studios’ Atlantis Rising for director Len Wiseman according to The Hollywood Reporter. The writer/director is also adapting Frank Miller’s Ronin for the screen.
Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci will be producing the project for DreamWorks.
"As a writer, Joby has an amazingly strong understanding of how to take genre seriously, which is prerequisite No. 1 for us when it comes to these kinds of movies," Kurtzman told the trade.
Scott O. Brown and Tim Irwin crafted the five-issue miniseries which concluded in the spring. The story tells of an underground civilization that begins to cause concern among the surface world’s governments. A war between surface and sea is inevitable, it seems.
"In all the classic versions of this kind of movie, the threat is always from the stars," Orci said. "The idea that it’s somehow our cousins who went off in a different path of evolution who have been here, literally, underneath our oceans. … That’s fascinating, the idea of secrets right under your nose."
DreamWorks reportedly sees this as a big budget summer tentpole picture for the summer of 2011
As part of its divorce agreement, Paramount Pictures will have an option to co-finance and co-distribute the film.
Given the long lead times, staking out turf two and three years ahead is becoming increasingly important. Already scheduled for summer 2011 in addition to Atlantis Rising are Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The First Avenger: Captain America, The Avengers, Cars 2, and, Kung Fu Panda 2.