Complications surrounding Curtis Hanson’s recent heart surgery will force the L.A. Confidential director to step away from his curtly-shooting picture, Of Men and Mavericks, though he’ll receive support from an equally qualified filmmaker who’ll step in a guide the production for a few days.
Michael Apted, award-winning director of the Up documentary series, will take over Hanson’s Northern California set and complete the final 15 days of principal photography on the director’s surfing drama, Deadline reports. Men, produced by Walden Media, tells the true story of surfer Jay Moriarty, who conquered a specific break off of California’s coast that became known as Mavericks. Newcomer Jonny Weston is on board playing Moriarty in the film. He’ll be joined by Gerard Butler, Abigail Spencer and Elisabeth Shue.
Apted’s no stranger to feature film work, having helmed the most recent Chronicles of Narnia film (for Walden), the James Bond thriller The World Is Not Enough, Jodie Foster’s Nell and Gorillas In the Mist.
It’s unclear just how much footage Apted will have to shoot for Hanson, or whether Hanson will be back in time to begin the editing process. As of right now, Men has scheduled an October 2012 release, which should give Hanson time to complete a final cut should he be able to overcome these unfortunate health complications that have popped up due to his surgery. Though Hanson helmed the TV movie Too Big to Fail, about our nation’s financial meltdown, his last theatrical release was 2007’s Lucky You with Drew Barrymore, and his fans were hoping he could rebound with a winning drama. We’re pulling for Hanson, for his health, and for Of Men and Mavericks.
