'Trax' has sent in gossip today regarding various well-known French film directors, and what they're up to next:
Jean Pierre Jeunet (Amelie) "Life of Pi" is in active development. Guillaume Laurant ("Amelie") wrote the script, based on the novel by Yann Martel. The novel won both the Booker Prize in 2002 and Canada's Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction in 2001. Originally Fox 2000 made a seven-figure deal to pay Dean Georgaris to adapt, but he dropped out when M. Night Shyamalan was brought aboard to direct and write. Alfonso Cuaron was also in early discussions to direct.
Florent Siri (Hostage) Florent Siri will direct "A.K.A.", a Christophe Rocancourt biopic. The script describes the real-life exploits of the notorious con artist who lied and cheated his way from poverty to living the high-life among Hollywood's elite. It'll be based on Rocancourt's autobiography "The French Hustler". Milo Addica was paid low-seven figures to write and direct the film, but he dropped out.
Jean-Francois Richet (Assault on Precinct 13) Shooting of "Death Instinct" and "Public Enemy Number One" starts in early 2007 (they will shoot simultaneously). Both movies are based on the true story of France's infamous public enemy during the 70s, Jacques Mesrine. He lead a life of bank robberies and high-profile kidnappings, escaped from prison twice, and was said to have killed at least 39 people.
Christophe Gans (Silent Hill) Shooting of the "Onimusha" video game adaptation starts in 2007. "Silent Hill 2" is also planned.
Mathieu Kassovitz (Gothika) The shooting of "Babylon Babies", Mathieu Kassovitz' English-lingo book adaptation, starts in early 2007.
Louis Leterrier (The Transporter 2, Unleashed) He'll direct "Blacksad", based on a French comic book. Blacksad is a "film noir" with animals as main characters.
Eric Valette (One Missed Call) Shooting of the remake of "One Missed Call" starts in late July 2006.
Marc Caro (The City of Lost Children) He will direct "Dante 01", a sci fi movie. Set in the future, where criminals are packed off to outer space, it recounts the mishaps of six dangerous criminals locked in a prison on Dante, a hostile planet with a toxic atmosphere. As guinea pigs of strange experiments, the six try to escape under the direction of psychopath Cesar, who battles for leadership with St Georges, an inmate gifted with mysterious powers. Lambert Wilson ("The Matrix") will star. Shooting starts in summer.
Olivier Dahan (La Vie en Rose) The shooting of "La Vie en Rose," a biopic about Gallic chanteuse Edith Piaf, with Marion Cotillard in the lead, wrapped two weeks ago and footage from the film went down splendidly at Cannes. A French release is being targeted for Valentine's Day in 2007.
Gaspar Noe (Irreversible) Gaspar Noe's Cinema De La Zone has teamed with Wild Bunch and Fidelite to co-produce $13.5m film "Enter the Void" in English.
Jan Kounen (Blueberry) Jan Kounen's book adaptation "99 francs" aims to begin shooting mid-September. Jean Dujardin will star.
