The creation of the atom bomb is a subject that’s surely ripe for drama, and the stories – fictional or otherwise – of the people who had a hand in making and testing it has struck a chord with actor-director Chris Eigeman. He’s now preparing to make Midnight Sun, snapping up Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Kruger and Emile Hirsch to star.
Eigeman wrote the script for the film, which is set in 1943 and finds two young post-graduates (Eisenberg and Hirsch) recruited along with any wives and significant others to work on a top secret US government project in New Mexico.
Relocating from swinging, jazzy New York, they must adapt to a new life in a secret community of scientists out in the desert as one of the most terrible weapons created by mankind is developed.
With Richard Rhodes, who scored a Pulitzer for his book The Making Of The Atomic Bomb, on as an adviser, Eigeman aims to get started shooting this summer.
The film is not to be confused with the mooted Twilight story of the same name, by the way. Unless they're really pulling a fast one.