‘Sinbad’ Movie Coming From ‘Battle Of The Bastards’ Director Miguel Sapochnik
Miguel Sapochnikhas a lot of nerd cred going for him at the moment. The director is fresh off of directing two fan-favoriteGame of Thronesepisodes, “Battle of the Bastards” and “The Winds of Winter.” The Emmy-winning director hasn’t made a feature film since 2010’sRepo Men, an entertaining, albeit messy, B-movie that didn’t connect with audiences and was possibly held back by compromises. Six years after making his feature directorial debut, Sapochnik has another film in the works, and it’s about the legendary adventures ofSinbad.
Below, learn more about the newSinbadmovie.
According toThe Hollywood Reporter, Studio 8 won a bidding war over this project.Sinbadis described as “a new take on the tales of one of literature’s most enduring fantasy heroes.” The adventurer has been depicted many, many times in film and television, most famously in 1958’sThe 7th Voyage of Sinbad, which features some iconic stop-motion work from the late Ray Harryhausen.
Sinbad originated in the Middle East. The character became more known to Western readers when Arabian Nights — a series of stories about the character — came out. The last time we saw Sinbad in a major release was in 2003’sSinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas. It’s a mostly forgettable animated movie starring Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Kyle Killenis writing Sapochnick’sSinbadfilm. The screenwriter created the showsLone StarandMind Games. He also wrote two very good dramas more people should’ve seen,The BeaverandScenic Route, and co-wroteNetflix’s adaptationofDeath Note. Mandeville Films’David HobermanandTodd Lieberman(The FighterandThe Divergent movies) are handling the producing side of things onSinbad.
In their statement, here’s what Studio 8 had to say about the project and its “distinct and unique actor roles for a diverse cast of the characters”:
Sinbad was a rare comprehensive and engaging pitch which lends itself to an international audience and big visual set pieces but also distinct and unique actor roles for a diverse cast of characters. This project is part of Studio 8’s ongoing commitment to working closely with filmmakers on the re-imagination of genres.
As for what’s next for Sapochnik, he directed an episode of Netflix’sIron Fist. He’s also attached to make the post-apocalyptic filmBios, which is about a robot programmed to protect its dead creator’s dog. Not long afterRepo MenSapochnik was hoping to direct a cop thriller set in London he wrote, but over the past few years, he’s been consistently directing for television; he even helmed an episode of Kyle Killen’sMind Games. It’s good to learn he’s got another feature film in the works, though, and one as big asSinbad. Let’s hope Sapochnik has a little more creative freedom on this project than he did onRepo Men, a movie the filmmaker has talked about wanting to release a Director’s Cut of.
