Author Howard A. Rodman’s latest book isn’t even out yet, and it’s already getting made into a movie. Variety reports that Rodman’s The Great Eastern is being developed into a feature film.
The rights were acquired by London-based content and media company Great Point Media. Rodman, who is a former president of the Writers Guild of America West, will also adapt his own work for the screenplay.
The story follows two of literature’s iconic anti-heroes, Captain Nemo from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Captain Ahab from Moby Dick, as they do battle throughout the late 19th century. After Nemo kidnaps real-life civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel to build a submarine, which would link the U.S. and England, two opposing colonial forces at the time, the three men find themselves at battle with each other.
“Howard Rodman is a literary master whose long list of screenwriting credits speak for themselves. Great Point Media is thrilled to be bringing his vision onto the big screen,” said Great Point Media’s Jim Reeve.
Rodman also wrote the 1990 novel Destiny Express and his adaption of Showtime’s anthology series Fallen Angels, starring Tom Cruise. The author is currently adapting Jean-Patrick Manchette’s novel Three to Kill for Amazon, with Chris McQuarrie directing and Laura Bickford producing the pic.
