Apparently, Warner Bros. saw an early rough cut of The Invasion and realized it needed a little work. The director, Oliver Hirschbiegel, was “unavailable” to work on the planned reshoots, so Warner Bros. and Joel Silver brought in a pair of writer/directors that they knew they could rely upon, The Wachowski Brothers. It was reported that they came in to shoot a new ending. But I can report that they rewrote over 2/3 of the film, and brought in their trusted colleague, James Mcteigue (V For Vendetta), to direct the material while they were busy prepping their own film.
Joel Silver and Warner Bros. knew that they were capable of creating a more commercially accessible and large scale film than had previously been put together. Apparently, the earlier cut may have been a little artsy, talky, and not exactly a summer tentpole.
So, we all knew we were getting a new Wachowski film with the upcoming G rated Speed Racer in 2008, but now we’re getting something to hold our appetites in the meantime. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about this and I hope there’s a trailer soon. Hint. Hint. And if you’re curious what this film is about, luckily earlier this year, Warner Bros. provided me with a thorough and complete synopsis of said film:
THE INVASION
August 17
(Warner Bros. Pictures / Village Roadshow Pictures)
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Writers: Screenplay by David Kajganich, based on the novel The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney Producers: Joel Silver
Executive Producers: Roy Lee, Doug Davison, Susan Downey, Steve Richards, Ronald G. Smith, Bruce Berman
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam
Sci-fi Action Thriller. The Invasion tells the story of a mysterious epidemic that alters the behavior of human beings. When a Washington D.C. psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) discovers the epidemic’s origins are extraterrestrial, she must fight to protect her son, who may hold the key to stopping the escalating invasion.
Thanks Collider!