Justin Lin and Neal H. Moritz to Develop Summit Entertainment’s New Highlander Vision
Regular readers on Fused Film, probably already know about this because we reported this last May of 2008. In that story we were told that Peter Davis, original producer of the Highlander series, would come back to executive produce and that Iron Man writers Art Marcum and Matt Holloway were going to write the film.
Now Summit has confirmed all of this as well announcing that Justin Lin and Neal H. Moritz would be joining the project for its development. Lin will direct with Moritz producing. Summit acquired the rights to remake the cult classic from Davis – Panzer Productions, Inc. in May of 2008, when we reported the last story.
Summit’s film will expand on the original Highlander’s core mythology of immortals battling amongst us, hunting each other through the ages by tapping its newly minted creative team to take its re-imagination to new heights. Plans call for the re-imagination to spur a new franchise for the studio.
“We are privileged to have this amazing opportunity to reinvent one of the great franchises,” said Patrick Wachsberger, co-chairman of Summit Entertainment. “Neal and Justin have proven more than once that they can deliver an entertaining and exciting blockbuster.”
Added Peter Davis of Davis-Panzer Productions, “Justin and Neal are an exciting directing/producing team and I am confident that they will deliver a truly dynamic film while being totally respectful of HIGHLANDER Legend.”
Justin Lin most recently directed the hit action film Fast and Furious, the fourth film of that Universal franchise. He also directed Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift and Better Luck Tomorrow.
In addition Neal Moritz and his Original Film banner have produced a myriad of action films including the upcoming Flash Gordon and The Green Hornet as well as I Am Legend and more.
When we broke the story last year that Summit acquired rights to remake the film they mentioned they planned to be in production the following year. Now 2009 they have the writers, production team and director so not bad on the planning. Let’s just hope they do not cast Robert Pattinson as the new Highlander. Maybe someone like Michael Sheen or Kevin McKidd. That being said Summit knows how to market and this new revision of Highlander will certainly be intriguing to see with all this creative talent.
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