I want you to think all the way back to February of '07 when Sony first announced that they would be making a feature film out of the best-selling game, Metal Gear Solid. Everything seemed on track, then the writer's strike happened and it seemed Solid was going to fade away to obscurity ... or then again, maybe not. Coming Soon recently got the chance to speak with producer Michael De Luca during a press event for 21, when they scored a little tidbit about the future of the big-screen Metal Gear. According to De Luca, the project is not only back on, but they are already on the lookout for someone to write the script – namely, Kurt Wimmer.

Metal Gear Solid is a stealth game released by Konami back in 1998. The story, or what little there was in the beginning, focused on a genetically enhanced soldier named Snake taking down the evil FOXHOUND. As the franchise continued, more attention was paid to the story in the game. By the third installment there was a much richer mythology surrounding political conspiracies and state of the art warfare included in the game.

When it comes to the feature film, Wimmer's involvement is far from a done deal. According to De Luca, Columbia Pictures will be meeting with Wimmer over the next few weeks to see if he is interested in taking on the script. Wimmer was the writer and director behind Equilibrium and Ultraviolet, both of which might as well have been video games, so he seems like a good fit. CS also hinted that Wimmer could be taking over directing duties for MGS as well, so stay tuned to Cinematical for any news that comes our way.

Considering how hard it is to get people to go see a Tom Cruise movie these days, it wouldn't be surprising if it was also hard to get a director who'll work with the guy. Of course, Cruise's waning bankability isn't the reason that his spy movie, the weakly titled Edwin A. Salt, has already lost Terry George and Michael Mann as potential directors. I'm not sure why they aren't doing the film (Mann apparently picked Public Enemies instead), but it can't be fears of a potentially low gross. No matter; they are out and Peter Berg (The Kingdom) is in, according to Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider Blog. Well, he's not quite in yet; Columbia Pictures is only reportedly wooing the guy, though in the end it's supposedly up to Cruise's approval whether or not he gets the gig. Interestingly enough, Berg can almost be viewed as a Mann protégé, since he produced The Kingdom and Berg's follow-up, next summer's Will Smith vehicle, Hancock (the trailer of which hit the net this week). However, it doesn't appear that Mann will have any involvement with Edwin A. Salt.

I won't admit to being the biggest fan of Berg's work (who could, really?), but I will admit that The Kingdom was one of my top ten movies of 2007. Though it's mainly on my list because all critics have to have that one obligatory mainstream Hollywood pick, I do think it was directed quite well, with a tone that perfectly suited what it was really about (American dreams of an '80s action-movie-type response to 9/11). Also, his Friday Night Lights (the film; I haven't seen the TV pilot he did) was better than most high school football movies. So, I'm excited to see what he can do with Cruise, a script from Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium) and the beginning-to-get-tired world of spies.

This past weekend, while hunting for movies I never had a chance to see, I decided to pick up Breach on DVD. Inspired by the real-life story of FBI Agent-turned-Russian spy Robert Hanson, the film is one of those rare spring gems that went fairly unnoticed when it hit theaters. Those looking for an excellent drama should definitely check this out and -- wow -- though I never thought it was possible, I might be starting to actually like Ryan Phillippe. I mention Breach because this spy stuff is pretty hot right now, and Variety reports Tom Cruise might be looking to get this feet wet in a film that sort of reminds me of a mix between The Fugitive and The Bourne Whatever. Columbia Pictures is in talks to have Terry George (who helmed the magnificent Hotel Rwanda) direct Edwin A. Salt, with Cruise potentially playing the lead character.

The film follows a CIA officer (Cruise) who is fingered as a Russian sleeper spy, and subsequently sets out on a mission to not only prove his innocence, but also reunite with his family -- all while attempting to elude those who want his head on a silver platter. The script was penned by Kurt Wimmer (The Recruit, Ultraviolet), while Lorenzo di Boneventura and Sunil Perkash are producing. Personally, this looks to be the perfect role for Cuise, who I've always found shines in parts that rely more on drama than non-stop action. And it also goes to show the man is looking to lose himself in some nice-looking films (Lions for Lambs, Valkyrie) instead of opting to jump on couches and offend depressed mothers. No word yet on whether Cruise will take on this film before those other two comedies (Men, Hardy Boys) he has planned, but here's hoping this film adds to a long line of upcoming Cruise vehicles that will definitely be worth our time.

So maybe the relative success of The Good Shepherd has inspired other studios to look for their own spy vehicles for the upcoming year. Earlier, Monika had the news that Johnny Depp was looking into producing a film about the mysterious death of KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko for Warner Bros. Now, Variety reports that Columbia Pictures has hired Michael Mann for a competing Litvinenko flick. They didn't stop there though, and have also picked up another spy property, although this one seems a little less political and a little more action packed.

The Hollywood Reporter had the announcement that Columbia Pictures had bought the rights to Kurt Wimmer's new spy-thriller Edwin A. Salt. Wimmer has a few credits to his name, including writing The Thomas Crown Affair remake, but the bad news is that he also wrote The Recruit and Ultraviolet -- which might not be the best example of his talents considering I thought both of those movies were pretty much duds. Edwin A. Salt will be the story of an American CIA officer who is falsely accused of being for a Russian sleeper agent. While eluding capture for a supposed plot to assassinate the President, Salt has to find the real spy to clear his name. Since Columbia has only just purchased a spec for the script, it will be most likely be some time before we see a director or cast attached.

[via Dark Horizons]

 

Ultraviolet is the latest entry in the Revisionist Vampire genre, where evil bloodsuckers are recast as a fashionable but oppressed minority in a world gone mad. Or as repressed supermodels. Instead of stalking innocent damsels in their bedrooms, they now stalk the runways of Paris and Milan, picking up aviator sunglasses and other accessories that match the exclusive-club nature of their blood type. The unfortunate need to inject a little blood now and then - so bourgeois - is handled with the discretion of a coke habit. The pointy canine teeth are retained by some of these new vampires for retro kitsch value, such as the character of Garth in this film, who is a model for a sort of English-Humanities Professor Vampire. As he paces the floor, fulminating on the existential problems of vampirism, the teeth make a nice contrast to his furrowed brow and unkempt hair. Not to get your hopes up. Ultraviolet is an ultra-careless action-vampire mash-up that will satisfy neither action fans or those who enjoy the typical Wikipedia-culled hodgepodge of vampire lore. It rarely even makes sense. After the movie informs us that vampirism was recently created by a viral mutation, for example, we see the vampires brandishing swords with ancient glyph writing burned onto the blades. Looks like they've been around for a while.