McG to set sail in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea remake

Looks as if McG has got his next film sorted once Terminator Salvation wraps. Variety as the news that he has signed on to direct 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea a sort of remake of the 1954 live-action Disney film that starred James Mason and Kirk Douglas.

The original Jules Verne tale was first published in 1870, but most people remember the Disney version famous for its giant squid scene and excellent design of the Nautilus or the cool Nautilus and Captain Nemo in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (not the poor film, but the cool Alan Moore comic book).

Bill Marsilii, (Deja Vu) has written the screenplay for this new version and it will be an origin story focusing on Nemo as he creates his powerful submarin, the Nautilus. This sounds like a great way to go as Nemo is a truly mysterious character.

Here is what wikipedia have to say on Nemo:

Nothing concerning his past is revealed in the Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, excepting his having reason to hate the countries of the world and the apparent loss of his family. It is in its sequel, The Mysterious Island, that Nemo declares himself Prince Dakkar, the Hindu son of the Raja of Bundelkund. He was deeply antagonistic to the British Raj of India. After the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857, in which he lost his family and his kingdom, he devoted himself to scientific research and develops an advanced submarine, the Nautilus. He and a crew of his followers cruise the seas, battling injustice, especially imperialism. The gold of Spanish ships sunk in Vigo Bay, as a result of the Battle of Vigo Bay, provided them with bullion.

This could be excellent film if done right and should have a dark edge to it all. What with this and a Bioshock film in the works it looks as if Hollywood will be underwater for a while. Are you excited about the remake?

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