Game of Thrones’ Miguel Sapochnik will direct a new Sinbad adventure
A new big-screen take on Sinbad the sailor is on the way. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, bringing word that Game of Thrones director Miguel Sapochnik will helm the fantasy adventure from a screenplay by Kyle Killen. Producing the new film are Mandeville’s David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman.
A classic hero of middle eastern folklore, Sinbad’s role in “One Thousand and One Nights” helped spread his stories throughout the world. Theatrical versions of Sinbad date back almost as far as cinema itself. It was in 1958, however, that the best known movie version debuted with Columbia Pictures’ The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (pictured above). The studio followed it with two sequels (1974’s The Golden Voyage of Sinbad and 1977’s Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger), all of which boasted special effects designed by the legendary Ray Harryhausen. A little over a decade ago, DreamWorks Animation released an animated feature, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, which featured the voice talents of Brad Pitt, Michelle Pfeiffer and Joseph Fiennes.
Miguel Sapochnik previously directed the 2010 science fiction thriller Repo Men, starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker. His small-screen credits are far more prolific, having directed episodes of shows like House, Fringe and Under the Dome, in addition to his work on HBO‘s Game of Thrones. Last season, Miguel Sapochnik helmed the show’s two final episodes, beginning with the Emmy-winning “Battle of the Bastards.”
“Sinbad was a rare comprehensive and engaging pitch which lends itself to an international audience and big visual set pieces but also distinct and unique actor roles for a diverse cast of characters,” reads Studio 8’s official statement on project. “This project is part of Studio 8’s ongoing commitment to working closely with filmmakers on the re-imagination of genres.”
How do you feel about Miguel Sapochnik taking on Sinbad? Are there any specific Sinbad stories you’d like to see make it to the big screen (or back to the big screen)? Let us know in the comments below!
