Though the project flirted with an A-list director like Christopher Nolan and Michael Bay for a while, the new Twilight Zone movie is set to move forward with Cloverfield and Let Me In director Matt Reeves at the helm. But there's one tiny problem: apparently Warner Bros. is not 100 percent on Jason Rothenberg's script. So what's the best way to fix that problem? Hire a new writer, of course!
Variety has learned that WB has now in final negotiations with Tony Peckham to do a rewrite of the script for The Twilight Zone. The studio is quite familiar with Peckham, as he was the writer of Sherlock Holmes and Invictus, both of which were Warner Bros. properties. The writer's other work includes the Andrew Klavan-directed thriller Don't Say A Word. Unlike the original Twilight Zone movie from 1983, which was made by powerhouse directors John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante and George Miller, previous reports have said that the new project won't be anthology, but rather will have just one story described as a "big science fiction action movie." That, however, referred to Rothenberg's script, so who knows how Peckham will change things.
I'm always wary about deals like this. Warner Bros. might like Peckham's work, but 20th Century Fox loves Skip Woods and his credits include Hitman, Swordfish and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. A studio may have reasons for liking a writer outside of their talent. That said, Reeves is a talented director and a new Twilight Zone movie could be interesting. I wouldn't count this one out just yet.
