Deadline has learned that Captain America: The First Avenger director Joe Johnston (Jumanji, Jurassic Park 3) has landed his next feature film project. As they report he’ll helm the science fiction film Starfall written by David Coggeshall (Solo, Star One).
The film will be Chinese production and will be shot at Wanda Group’s Qingdao Studios, a 56,000-square-foot facility. Lionsgate will be co-fiancing along with Wanda and Infinity Pictures.
Joe Johnston will be directing a $100 million-budgeted sci-fi film at Wanda’s Qingdao Studios called Starfall. The project is being produced by Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Erik Howsam and Infinity Pictures’ Dede Nickerson. The film is being co-financed by Lionsgate, Wanda and Infinity Pictures, which is a China Media Capital-backed company.
Not much is known about the project except that will revolve around a space station and is action focused.
The same massive studio space is said to also be where Legendary Pictures’ Pacific Rim 2 and Godzilla 2 will be shooting scenes.
China is looking to become a big player within the film industry as they move into blockbuster filmmaking. Studios like Warner Bros., Legendary and Liongate are setting up shop in the country and we expect to see more studios moving facilities to the east and developing co-productions.
The Pinewood Group now has stages in Beijing and could mean Disney productions might possibly shoot there, I wouldn’t be terribly shocked if Mulan was one of the first projects made at Pinewood China.
It’s interesting that Johnston is jumping back into a science fiction project.
The director got his start in the Star Wars art department and ultimately became an art director on the films. He’s the man behind the creation of Boba Fett and there had been a fan campaign years ago to see him direct a standalone film.
Apparently, Joe had an outline and pitch for a Fett movie at one time or another around years back. At the time, Lucasfilm headed-up by George Lucas didn’t seem too interested in the prospect. Disney would ultimately buy both Marvel and Lucasfilm after Johnston’s involvement on Captain America: The First Avenger.
There’s new chatter that the bounty hunter is getting his own movie, we’d hope to see Johnston involved as a producer and creative/art design consultant.
Currently, there isn’t a production start or release date announced for Starfall.
SOURCE: DEADLINE