James McTeigue (V For Vendetta) has come on board to direct Message from the King. Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell (Unknown) wrote the script which FilmNation Entertainment’s head of production Aaron Ryder is producing with Rhodri Thomas of The Ink Factory and Ash Shah. The film is slated to begin production in the late fall and FilmNation will also be handling international sales.
This character-driven thriller centers on Jacob King, an enigmatic outsider who comes to Los Angeles to investigate the sudden and mysterious disappearance of his sister.
This will be McTeigue’s second outing with FilmNation Entertainment; he recently wrapped The Raven starring John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe which FilmNation and Intrepid Pictures produced. Relativity Media will release The Raven on March 9th and both McTeigue and Ryder will be at Comic-con in San Diego in support of the film.
“After working with James on ‘The Raven’ and then seeing a cut of the film, it was very clear to us that we needed to make his next movie. We are thrilled to be working with him again,” said FilmNation’s Aaron Ryder.
Added The Ink Factory’s Rhodri Thomas, “This script harks back to our favorite character-led thrillers of the 1970s, but depicts Los Angeles in a distinctive, contemporary light. With James at the helm were sure to see something exciting and original.”
Cornwell and Butcher are currently adapting the Warren Ellis graphic novel series, “Gravel,” for Legendary Pictures. Cornwell is also the co-founder of The Ink Factory, which is currently prepping the John le Carré adaptation, A Most Wanted Man, to be directed by Anton Corbijn (The American).
In addition to Message from the King and The Raven, FilmNation recently finished House at the End of the Street starring Jennifer Lawrence (X-Men: First Class) which will be released on April 20th. The company is also in development and fully financing an untitled Oren Peli project; in development on Mud directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter); F*cking Engaged which will star Jessica Biel; and The Amateur American directed by Ross Katz.
