David Goyer Goes On A 'Fantastic Voyage' with James Cameron

In the works for years and considered something of a passion project for James Cameron, Fantastic Voyage has been so far underwater nobody has heard anything about it in months. At one time the film seemed to be moving forward with Shawn Levy at the helm and a cast that would have included Will Smith and Hugh Jackman, but nothing happened as a slew of writers failed to crack the script. Now the project is back on and fast-tracked by 20th Century Fox as David Goyer has come aboard to pen the latest screenplay.

As if the Dark Knight trilogy and Man of Steel writer isn't busy enough with Batman vs. Superman, Goyer will now write a treatment for Fantastic Voyage, a remake of the silly 1966 sci-fi film about a team of scientists shrunk down in a submarine and sent inside the body of a sick colleague. Fox hopes Goyer's involvement will launch what they expect to be a major event film, likely to be in 3D.

We'll see if Goyer, who also wrote Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Sandman, can get this project moving finally. [THR]

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James Cameron's Fantastic Voyage now a love story; script 2/3 complete

It may seem like Shawn Levy(Real Steel) has a new project every other week, but don't let that fool you, he's still very much on board to direct a remake of Fantastic Voyage for producer James Cameron. He'll probably tackle his version of Frankenstein first, then maybe a new take on Pinocchio, plus there's the Real Steel sequel he's confirmed to return for. Somehow amongst all that he'll find time for Fantastic Voyage, which according to recent statements by James Cameron is going to diverge from the 1966 classic about a team of scientists who shrink down and enter the body of a colleague to save his life. Cameron told Deadline...

Cameron: “I gave him my idea about how this should be turned into a love story and he’s really run with it."

Written by Shane Salerno with a rewrite by Laeta Kalogridis(Shutter Island), the story will center on a doctor in the midst of a troubled marriage, who shrinks down in an attempt to save the life of his deathly ill wife. The action picks up once he and his crew reach the woman's brain.

Hey, this is James Cameron. The guy who turned the deaths of hundreds on a sinking ship into an epic romance. Did you expect something different?

Cameron said the script is about 2/3 of the way into development, so there's no sure fire answer to when the film might shoot. It will of course be in 3D, but I wouldn't expect it for at least 2-3 years. For one thing, they need to figure out who will star. At last report, there was some "argument" over Levy's desire to cast an A-list star, otherwise he'd walk away from the project altogether. That's been disputed since, but it remains an issue. Will Smith's name has been floated around as a potential star, and it certainly sounds like the type of July 4th weekend film he's known for. Smith has a lot on his schedule as well, so we'll just have to wait and see how it turns out.

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Hugh Jackman to come along and ride on a Fantastic Voyage?

Admittedly, Shawn Levy's Fantastic Voyage remake hasn't exactly lit my fire. I'd be much more inclined to pay attention if James Cameron were directing rather than simply producing the 3D feature. This is still a big deal pic, but I find Levy an uninteresting filmmaker, even though his upcoming robot brawler, Real Steel, looks like a winner. That film stars Hugh Jackman, and proving that the two have apparently hit it off like a couple of kindred spirits, the actor is now circling Fantastic Voyage as well.


Deadline broke the news of Jackman's potential involvement in the remake, stating that he's Levy's top choice to star. Jackman's got some time to fill in his normally busy schedule, what with The Wolverine now on hiatus for a number of reasons. Let's not forget that Jackman recently turned down the starring role in Snow White and the Huntsman. So he should have time to fit this in depending on when production begins. As it stands right now the project hasn't been given the thumbs up, but it's only a matter of time.

Fantastic Voyage will be a remake of Richard Fleisher's 1966 sci-fi/family classic about a team of scientists shrunk down so they can enter the body of a scientist and save his life. The screenplay had been adapted into a novel by Isaac Asimov prior to the film's release.

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Shawn Levy to direct Fantastic Voyage for James Cameron

The journey to find a director for the James Cameron produced adaptation of Fantastic Voyage appears to be over, as Deadline is reporting Shawn Levy as the man who'll be behind the camera.  Last I remember hearing of the project was back in October when Louis Letterier(Clash of the Titans) was at the top of the wishlist. That was after Paul Greengrass pulled his name out of the running. That would've been an odd fit, anyway. 

Based on the 1966 sci-fi film which inspired the Isaac Asimov novel(yes the movie came first),  it tells the story of a crew of CIA agents and doctors who are miniaturized and sent into the body of a renowned scientist in order to help save his life. Shawn Levy has had massive success with both of his Night at the Museum movies, which combine some pretty heavy use of CGI, expected to be a major component in this film as well. I guess he's the guy to go to when the plot involves shrinkage? If they ever remake Honey I Shrunk the Kids I expect Levy's name will be the first one mentioned to direct it.

This actually works out pretty well. I'm no big fan of Levy's previous flicks, but this appears to be right in his wheelhouse. The original film(featuring a scorchin' Raquel Welch) is one of my favorite straight up sci-fi flicks, so I hope they stick with that and not quirk it up too much. 

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