Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) has signed on for another big budget film, agreeing to direct sci-fi thriller Chariot for Warner Bros.
The film is an adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name written by Bryan Edward Hill and drawn by Priscilla Petraites. Julian Meiojas (Jack Ryan) will pen the script while Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen of 21 Laps will produce.
The film is a sci-fi thriller focusing on a project from the Cold War that saw the government provide its star agent with a unique weapon: a state-of-the-art sports car, The Chariot.
The car sank into the ocean decades ago along with the agent, but it’s now been discovered by a petty criminal looking to reform his life. But there’s a problem: the agent’s consciousness is still controlling the car.
There is also reportedly a star-crossed romance at the heart of the film – maybe between the criminal and the car? – and the filmmakers have pitched the project as a cross between True Romance and The Matrix. Somehow there was no mention of Knight Rider in the press release, perhaps to avoid comparisons to a famous TV show parodied to death and now considered kitchy.
This sounds like an idea that probably works far better on the bold, colourful pages of a graphic novel, and not in the serious sci-fi world of a Hollywood blockbuster. Unless Kosinski is planning to move away from his more traditional sci-fi style seen in Tron: Legacy and Oblivion, this might not be a great fit.
But who knows? Perhaps Chariot isn’t the bad SNL skit it sounds like. Kosinski has proved himself to be a more-than-adept director of sci-fi, and maybe he’s found a sense of levity after having worked on Top Gun: Maverick, which is one of two films of his that are awaiting release. The other is another sci-fi film, Escape From Spiderhead, which stars Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller.
He has also been eyed to helm Universal’s Twister reboot, but there hasn’t been any additional word on that since the news was first reported over a year ago.
More Chariot news will likely arrive soon as Kosinski’s name will be talked about frequently in film circles for the rest of year, as Top Gun: Maverick finally hit cinemas Friday, November 19 after numerous COVID-19-related delays. Escape From Spiderhead, a Netflix release, is also expected to arrive sometime in 2021, but doesn’t have a confirmed release date yet.
#Peace.Love.Chariot
