A new science-fiction story is on the horizon and this one hails all the way from the Nordic nation of Iceland. Olaf de Fleur Johannesson, who has become well known in his home country for his action thriller Borgríki (known here in the U.S. as City State) has sold a pitch to Summit Entertainment for a new sci-fi action movie called Revoc.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news about the acquisition, but just about all details about the plot are being kept under wraps at this time. The only thing that's known about the story is that it is in the same vein as Neill Blomkamp's District 9 and Duncan Jones' Moon and is "a post-alien invasion." Given those comparisons it sounds as though the movie is going to be a lower-budget affair and be a bit more character based than standard blockbusters. David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman of Manderville Films will be producing the project, making it the second time that they have paired up with Summit. Their first collaboration, the zomromcom Warm Bodies, will be in theaters early next year.
I am totally in favor of science-fiction moving in this direction. Big blockbusters are great, but District 9 and Moon are two of the best examples of the genre in recent memory because they used the concepts and interesting aspects of sci-fi rather than just the possibilities for big action sequences and special effects (not that District 9 didn't have those, and they were great). We'll just have to wait and see what de Fleur Johannesson has up his sleeve.
