Though he's worked on TV shows, Martin Campbell hasn’t directed a film since 2011’s Green Lantern.** **He might finally be getting back into the saddle – or picking up the leash, as might be more apt – for Alpha, the story of military dogs and the Navy SEAL who must help them. Please make up your own endless supply of doggie jokes as we’re trying to keep things from getting ruff... Bad writer. Bad! Swats own nose with newspaper
Awful pooch puns aside, Paramount and Parkes/MacDonald are developing the film, which has seen script drafts from David Benioff, Graham Roland and Carl Ellsworth, with the most recent stab by Scott Frank.
Alpha sees a Navy SEAL sent to South America to help train dogs for combat duties. When the handler teaching him how to interact with the canines is captured, the operation appears to be over. But then our hero discovers that the man is still alive, and sets out with the dogs to save him.
According to the Wrap’s sources, Campbell hasn’t locked in a final deal but appears close to jumping aboard. This will likely push back everything else on his potential to-do list, including a Fall Guy film, paranoia thriller **Umbra and the rebooted TV take on Blake’s Seven (though he’s only a producer on that and it seems to be stuck in limbo anyway). Confirmation on this one as and when we get it.