Ed Zwick to direct, co-write The Great Wall

Back when we had our chance to talk to Ed Zwick last year, you could sense his overwhelming enthusiasm for his latest film, Love and Other Drugs. While that rom-com may have fallen a bit short of expectations, it didn't really slow Zwick down any, and he's going back to what I think he does best. To me he's the guy you turn to when a historical epic is on the slate, having helmed such flicks as Glory, The Last Samurai, and Legends of the Fall. But he's just made a deal with up 'n coming studio Legendary East to co-write and direct The Great Wall, about the legend surrounding the construction of the massive Chinese structure.

The China-based Legendary East was founded by Thomas Tull with the intent to produce a couple of English language films a year centered on Chinese culture. Marshall Herskovitz will team up with Zwick on the script, based on an idea conceived by Zwick and Max Brooks(World War Z).

I'm not sure what this legend is, but the first ideas of creating a Great Wall were established back around 220 BC during the Qin Dynasty. Maybe that's what it'll be. Whatever it is, if Zwick is at the helm then this is a film worth paying attention to.  Legendary East is aiming for a 2013 date on their first films, so expect to see The Great Wall around that time. [Variety]