The pieces are quickly falling into place for the upcoming "mainstream" adaptation of Christian rapture book series Left Behind. Earlier today we learned that Nicolas Cage has been selected to star as the lead in the movie (because sure, why not) and now the project has found its director. New reports have surfaced saying that Vic Armstrong, who has been working in the stunt department on Hollywood films since the 1960s, is now in talks to helm the adaptation.
THR says that the movie will be the first in a planned trilogy (naturally) and is being backed by Stoney Lake Entertainment, a new company founded by producer Paul Lalonde. While Armstrong is best known for his stunt work, he is also a long time second unit director, working on recent films such as The Amazing Spider-Man, Thor, The Green Hornet and Salt. His experience as feature director is limited, however. He has one title to his name, the 1993 Dolph Lundgren action movie Army of One, but he also helmed an episode of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. He was Harrison Ford's stunt double in both Raiders of the Lost Ark and Blade Runner, and also subbed for Christopher Reeve in the Superman movies.
The book series, written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, follows a group of people who have been left behind on earth after the biblical rapture and work to fight against the anti-Christ. The trade's new report says that the Christian beliefs will still be at the center of the movie, but that "the story will be more in the mold of a classic disaster movie." The books were previously adapted into a series with Kirk Cameron, which Lalonde also produced.
Production is currently aiming to star down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana next spring with a budget of about $15 million.
