Director Bryan Singer has been involved in more than just the X-Men franchise (and disquieting lawsuits) lately. He announced today that he’s also been adapting Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
According to Collider, he already wrote the story (while the script credits go to screenwriters Rick Sordelet and Dan Studney). Directing the film — which he called an “epic and emotional adventure for all ages” — will be his next project.
He posted the news on his Instagram earlier today, with a photo of a draft of the script, which also looks to have been completed today:
There are no details yet about the film and whether it’ll be set in the same period as Jules Verne’s originally-serialized novel (though it can be assumed its setting — the ocean — won’t be changing). The book follows marine biologist Pierre Aronnax on the voyage to find a legendary sea monster — which turns out to, once found, be a futuristic submarine commissioned by the mysterious Captain Nemo. Onboard, Aronnax travels and observes the deep seas with Nemo and his crew, encountering antagonistic giant squids, and eventually encountering Nemo’s own penchant for antagonism.
A Disney adaptation of the book (whose poster is seen above) was made in 1954; there’s no news yet regarding whether or not the studio will also be behind Singer’s film.