Brad Bird Linked To Naval Creature Feature ‘Here There Be Monsters’
Today is a big one for stories that boil down to “hey, this guy might do this movie.” (See Russell Crowe inNoahandRoboCop, and Ed Harris inPain and Gain.) The latest along those lines is a bit more exciting, however.
Brad Birdhas got to be at the top of a lot of director wishlists after the performance ofMission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. With that movie, the animation director proved beyond a doubt that he could do thrilling live-action. (Not that there were many doubts in the first place.) While we’ve known that Bird still wants to make theSan Francisco earthquake movie1906, he’s at the point now where there must be quite a few other offers flying his way. One isHere There Be Monsters, the story of a 18th century naval officewho runs across a sea monster.Vulturesays that Bird is meeting with Legendary Entertainment about the film, which has been in a sort of limbo sinceRobert Zemeckisleft the projectlast year. Here’s the plot:
Now this is just a meeting, so we’re a long way away from saying Bird would direct the film. And, realistically speaking, it doesn’t sound quite like the sort of project I’d expect to see him make. Why?
Well,Here There Be Monstershas a strong human component in the lead character John Paul Jones, based on the 18th century British naval officer who ended up siding against the British in the American Revolutionary War. But Bird’s films tend to have a stronger ensemble character collection, and relateable enemies. (With the exception of the somewhat non-existent enemy inM:I.) While the crew of a naval ship could provide a collection of characters that Bird could work with, the story doesn’t quite sound like a Bird film. That said, I’d love to see him do it. I’d be surprised to see it happen, however.
