Rupert Sanders, having directed films in the fantasy and sci-fi genre with Snow White And The Huntsman and Ghost In The Shell, respectively, is set to make another shift in genres. Per Collider, he will direct the Vietnam war movie The Things They Carried.
The project is based on Tim O’Brien‘s acclaimed collection of short stories, which drew on his own experiences as a soldier in the 23rd Infantry Division. It’s O’Brien’s third book about the war, and this one was penned in response to what he considered ignorance surrounding the war. It ended up becoming a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
One short story from the collection – Sweetheart Of The Song Tra Bong – was previously made into the 1998 film A Soldier’s Sweetheart, starring Kiefer Sutherland.
Sanders is reportedly working with casting director Carmen Cuba to find his young ensemble, and production could begin as soon as this summer in Vietnam. Scott B. Smith (A Simple Plan) has written the script.
Sanders’ directorial debut Snow White And The Huntsman was a commercial success, grossing nearly $400 million worldwide and spawning a sequel.
His follow-up, a live-action remake of the animated Japanese classic Ghost In The Shell, didn’t fare quite as well, and another project he was working on with Scarlett Johansson, Rub & Tug, caused outrage within the trans community, and Johansson stepped away from the lead role.
Sanders doesn’t yet have a distinctive style, so it’s tricky to ponder whether he’s a good fit for this project. The source material is acclaimed, but so was Ghost In The Shell, and that didn’t live up to expectations. So we’ll wait and see. With production moving quickly, we’ll likely find out about casting, and maybe a release date, soon.
#Peace.Love.TheThingsTheyCarried
