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Warner Bros. is Taking Homer's Classic Tale 'The Odyssey' to Space

by Ethan Anderton
January 15, 2013

The classic Greek epic The Odyssey, Homer's follow-up writing to the equally famous tale of The Illiad (which was already turned into the Brad Pitt led film Troy), is getting a Hollywood makeover at Warner Bros. Deadline reports James DiLapo, a fresh graduate from NYU, has been hired to write this adaptation of the tale that will take the action to space. DiLapo might be a newcomer, but his first script, Devils at Play, won the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences' Nicholl Fellowship for screenwriters. In addition, that same script made the Black List at the end of last year, so this guy knows what he's doing. More below!

Terry Dougas at 1821 Pictures is responsible for the seemingly silly, but not necessarily terrible idea of taking The Odyssey to space, and took the idea to Warner Bros. with his production partner Paris Kasidokostas Latsis. Those two guys are independently producing Jane Got a Gun with Natalie Portman, Michael Fassbender and Joel Edgerton. In addition, Harry Potter franchise producer David Heyman will join the producers from 1821 Pictures, working with Jeff Clifford and the Heyday banner.

Apparently DiLapo's pitch for the studio is what finalized their interest, and Warner Bros. sees it as a potential franchise (like anything nowadays). The project at least sounds more interesting than another sword and sandal epic, but we'll wait to see how the story is adapted for space and what kind of cast assembles. After all, Joel and Ethan Coen's O Brother Where Art Thou is a loose adaptation of The Odyssey, and that's one hell of a film. We'll probably hear more about DiLapo's career and this film in the future.

Filed under Development, Movie News

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