Sean Penn's last outing as director was in 2007 with Into The Wild, so it's about time he got back in the saddle and brought us another effort, eh? And that's just what's planned with Crazy For The Storm, a novel he's reportedly looking to adapt about another extreme survival situation.
A true-life memoir written by Norman Ollestad, it tells the story of his early life with his competitive dad, Norman Sr. From the age of 3, young Norman was taught skiing and surfing by his sports-loving father, much to his resentment. But his lessons were tested at age 11 when a small plane carrying father and son, father's girlfriend and a pilot to a ski competition crashed high in the San Gabriel mountains. Norman was the sole survivor, and had to use everything his father had taught him to survive and make his way down the mountain.
The film would seem right up Penn's alley, with its emphasis on father and son relationships, man's relationship with nature and bloody-minded determination. He'll have to find a heck of an 11 year-old to play the young Ollestad, however.
It's early days yet, but The Lucky One's Will Fetters is already at work on the script, so we'll be keeping an eye out to see where this one goes.