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Robert Zemeckis Also Involved with the Time Travel Project 'Replay'
by Alex Billington
April 29, 2011
Source: Vulture
Ever since Disney shut down ImageMovers, director Robert Zemeckis has been dabbling with returning to live-action. Unfortunately, he's just been nibbling at a bunch of projects, including one called Timeless, and another called Flight just last week. Well, Vulture reports there's another new project to add to his list, this one called Replay. It's an adaptation of a 1987 novel by Ken Grimwood about a radio journalist who dies in 1988, but wakes up in 1963, in his 18-year-old body, with all of his memories intact. They say that Zemeckis is "in serious talks with Warner Bros" to direct. I just want to see him commit and start filming!
Replay's story extends beyond just one timeline, as the character always dies that night in 1988, but always wakes up again in '63, allowing him to "make a new sets of choices, resulting in different spouses, progeny, and jobs in each 'life.'" It's actually more of a thriller, where he "slowly learns he can’t prevent his own death, but sets about trying to prevent the death of his daughter." Whoa, that sounds good. Please tell me he's going to cast Tom Hanks in this, as I'd love to see that, almost as a throwback to Big, too. Another throwback apparently in the script includes a reference to Steven Spielberg movie (they don't say which one) that eventually leads "the protagonist to his soul mate, a fellow time-jumper, and the movie's screenwriter." Damn, this just sounds fascinating, I feel like I need to get and read the book right away.
The screenplay was written by screenwriter and TV producer Jason Smilovic, who wrote Lucky Number Slevin (which I absolutely hated) and My Own Worst Enemy. Hmm, it sounds like that will need a bit of work before they actually give this the greenlight, but with Zemeckis on-board I don't think it'll be hard to get some big name writers involved. As for how soon we'll see Replay, Vulture says that although that Flight project with Denzel Washington was just announced last week, "it's unclear if or when Washington will commit to starring in the film, and in the meantime, we're told that Zemeckis seems to be doing Replay first, and then circling back for Flight." We'll have to wait and see what he chooses. Stay tuned!
6 Comments
1
Should be an interesting trek back to a back to the future type project. Always love the concept of time travel in movies. BTW, why no "WHAT DO YOU THINK?" for FAST FIVE? Gonna be the biggest movie of the year, so far. Especially a franchise that stands the test of time.
Mike Cromley on Apr 30, 2011
2
Replay is hands down the best book ive ever read. He meets the fellow jumper in the book though, nothing to do with spielberg. It is also what influenced groundhog day.
Elleyh08 on Apr 30, 2011
3
And lo, the wise man Zemecki's long travels through the terrible Uncanny Valley were at end. Strewn amongst his path were great budgets and large studios, all felled by the death stares of terrifying, unlikeable puppets.
Lebowski on Apr 30, 2011
4
A friend recommended the book "Replay" last December. I found the book engaging and thought provoking, even though I read it four months ago. It is especially poignant for someone who grew of during the 1960s. There are a few anachronisms in the book that would need to be updated. However, the overall story still holds up, even though it was written in 1987. A movie adaptation would be quite interesting. I'm surprised that it has not been made into a film before this time. Robert Zemeckis understands how to tell a story involving time travel. I am looking forward to seeing this.
Dan Dassow on May 1, 2011
5
wow good stuff !
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
6
wow good stuff !
A5J4DX on Nov 13, 2018
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