Yesterday, we reported the buzz around James Cameron developing a new sci-fi project with writer Shane Salerno. Well, now we know what it is: a remake of 1966's Fantastic Voyage.
It's been a pet project of Cameron's for a while (with Roland Emmerich and Tarsem Singh both attached to direct at different points in time), and now it looks like he'll be turning it into another 3D/digital project like Avatar vying for his attention. But unlike his latest epic, it's looking like he'll just produce this one.
We don't yet know how much Salerno and Cameron will alter the plot of Voyage - the original saw a team of scientists miniaturized and injected into the bloodstream of a diplomat who barely survives an assassination attempt.
Trouble is, the man's body isn't exactly happy about the new arrivals, and the crew must also deal with a traitor in their midst.
Avatar's technology sounds like the perfect forum for the story - and talking of pricey CG technology, Cameron is sticking to his plan for possible sequels, if only because he needs to keep using his expensive toys.
“When I pitched it to Fox, they said, ‘We’ve spent a lot of money creating all these assets, all these CG mountains, plants, trees, leaves, flowers, bugs’ — everything you saw up there on screen had been made by people at workstations over a period of years and so they have value,” Cameron said at the premiere.
“So in terms of the pitch it was: OK, you’ve spent a lot of money on the first one; on the second one we’ll be able to amortize it and focus on the story and all that ... and they bought that.” He's worked out plots for two more films, so if the first film lives up to its newly positive buzz, expect another trip to Pandora...
Don't miss our Avatar world premiere coverage with quotes from Cameron and his cast. Oh, and you can read our review online now too.