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Timur Bekmambetov Behind Secret New Sci-Fi Project 'Apollo 18'

by Alex Billington
November 6, 2010
Source: Deadline

I love surprises like this. Apparently there's a creepy found-footage sci-fi thriller called Apollo 18 that hits theaters in March 2011. Deadline says the film recently sold to The Weinstein Company, but it may already be in production and finished filming. Behind it is Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov, who presented purported footage shot by the crew of Apollo 18 to the Weinsteins, who financed the feature. That Apollo 18 moon mission from the 70s was officially canceled by NASA, but according to an urban legend, it actually happened. Timur's footage shows signs of alien life, and the mission is crafted into a found-footage thriller.

Deadline goes on to explain that there was a big bidding war last night at AFM for Apollo 18, which is being directed by newcomer Trevor Caewood from a script by Brian Miller. We might see the poster this weekend, but apparently it is aiming to hit theaters on March 4th next spring. This is a very slick concept, I just hope it delivers on the thrills and is not just an "our gauges keep showing the wrong values" kind of space drama. I'm sure even J.J. Abrams will be impressed if they can kick off a viral and start marketing this almost as a real occurrence and get a big audience built by March. I hope we see that happen - we'll keep you updated!

Filed under Indies, Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

Jimmy Love

Sounds kinda niffty
Jericho

didn't we have something like this to promote Transformers?...
beavis

sounds ok, BUT - i'm really getting tired of "found footage" movies..............the edge they had is really starting to wear off with more and more of them being made.
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2408/blackbabyjesus.gif Crapola

Fououuuuuuuun foootage, noooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Cloverfield was bad enough, it should really have ended with Blair Witch.
Hattori Hanzo

Apollo 18 didn't happen so unless you’ re 10 years old, we the movie goer will ill go into this movie knowing this fact simply to enjoy the sci fi story. No silly fake footage required. Timur Bekmambetov is either a gullible moron and think we are as well, or he lacks the self confidence to tell this story without cheap and worn out parlour tricks.
Fox

Didn't we have a similar movie like this on the works, about a black-ops mission to the moon, on the Apollo era? Anyway, im up for both movies -- only wish that they were made without the "found footage" gimmick, but oh well...
Cody w

Funny, I think the found footage idea hasnt even been tapped for potential yet but thats just me, anything to do with discovering alien life in it Im always curious.
Zues

There was a script that sold last week to Warner Bros. called DARK MOON, which was written by the dude who directed The Fourth Kind. What's with all these moon projects?
The Credenza Kid

Maybe zey found Nazis on ze Moon...