Ex-Washington Post managing editor Ian Stokell and Lesley Paterson have optioned classic WWI anti-war novel "All Quiet On The Western Front" with plans to make it into a big budget sweeping Hollywood epic through their Sliding Down Rainbows Entertainment Inc. production company.

The pair are penning a screenplay based on the 75-year old novel that has a "gritty, journalistic approach" and will, controversially, only use the novel as a starting point. the book was previously translated into an Oscar winning film in 1930.

"By creating new storylines ourselves, we believe this modern rendition will encompass greater depth and historical context, but still remain congruent with the spirit of Erich Maria Remarque's work" said Paterson in a press release issued today.

While a large emphasis will be on recreating the brutality and day-to-day horror of the trenches for the ordinary German infantryman, their intention is "also to add substantially to the development of the main characters" and emphasize the realism.

Ex-US Marine Captain Dale Dye, who served as military advisor on "Saving Private Ryan" & "Platoon", has already been attached in the same capacity.

"We plan on recreating the spectacular visual ambience of trench warfare - miles and miles of desolate, bombed out and cratered landscape - we also intend to add more texture and emotional layering to the overall story" says Stokell.