HOME TRAILERS 2013 SCHEDULE PODCASTS REVIEWS POSTERS INTERVIEWS SHORT FILMS NEWS FEEDS ABOUT APPS

LATEST NEWS

Doug Liman Heading to 'Everest' with Adaptation of 'Paths of Glory'

by Ethan Anderton
September 30, 2011
Source: Deadline

The director has been said to finally get his gestating sci-fi film Luna off the ground, not to mention being attached to an adaptation of All You Need is Kill, but Doug Liman has yet another project added to his future slate. Deadline reports the director is attached to direct Everest, an adaptation of Jeffrey Archer's book Paths of Glory. The film from Sony Pictures will be a drama about climber George Mallory and his three attempts way back in the early 1920's to become the first man to ever scale Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. Up in the Air writer Sheldon Turner will adapt the book for the big screen. More below!

Apparently Liman will also oversee the next draft of the script and the film is now a priority project for Sony Pictures. The film will have a focus not only on Mallory's obsession with scaling Everest, but also his rivalry with Australian climber George Finch as they each race to reach the top first. During the 1920's the feat was considered to be akin to landing on the moon. Mallory failed on his first two attempts, and while his third attempt in 1924 saw them near the top as he and his climbing partner Sandy Irvine, as they made their final approach, they disappeared in the clouds and were never heard from again. Sounds a bit anti-climactic, but Turner knows how to write a damn good film, so I'm sure he'll pull something off.

Filed under Development, Movie News

From around the web:

Anonymous

excellent! i'm excited for this.......now, if hollywood would only look at the potential for more movies about climbing the most dangerous 8000+ meter peaks in the world.
- Anonymous
  
  likewise - every time i hear about a film like this, i always hope for a gripping drama with Touching the Void-like moments, but usually we end up with tedious by the numbers Michael Beihn-starring K2 dreck. got to disagree with Ethan, as for me the story of Mallory's quest to reach the top is one of the greatest ever in mountaineering, especially considering no-one knows if he reached the summit or not. things that get me excited about this project; Doug Liman bringing Bourne Identity-like style to moutaineering sequences. things that neutralise that excitement; Jeffery Archer source novel. colour me hopeful.
  - Anonymous
    
    yea- there are MANY stories (about climbing the highest peaks) that would make riveting movies. and ethan - all true stories set to movies can be considered anti-climactic since the outcome is known.....but, with mallory - nobody knows for sure if he actually made it to the top.....it would be interesting to see how they write the script.
    - http://www.firstshowing.net/ Ethan Anderton
      
      I totally, agree with both of you. I'm sure the movie can turn out fine, and I like the idea of not knowing whether he actually made it to the top or not. Plus, like I said, I have every bit of faith in Sheldon Turner as a writer since Up in the Air was my favorite movie of 2009.
      - Anonymous
        
        agree, ethan! "up in the air" wasn't my favorite of '09......but, i liked it a lot. i have a lot of confidence that this will end up good.