Universal, Bekmambetov push the Pequod out (VAR)

By Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte

Universal is teaming with “Wanted” director Timur Bekmambetov for what is being termed, 'not-your-grandfather’s' “Moby Dick.” The film will be a reimagining of the classic Herman Melville whale tale. Variety reports that Universal paid high six figures to Adam Cooper and Bill Collage to pen the screenplay.

The writers intend to change the structure of the revered novel in the graphic novel-style version. Variety reports that the first-person narration (“Call me Ishmael,” anyone?), by the young seaman as he watches Captain Ahab’s descent into obsession over killing the great white whale, will be zapped.

The changes will include depictions of the whale’s decimation of other ships prior to its encounter with Ahab’s Pequod. Further, Ahab will be portrayed more as a charismatic leader than a brooding obsessive.

"Our vision isn’t your grandfather’s ‘Moby Dick,’ " Cooper told Variety. “This is an opportunity to take a timeless classic and capitalize on the advances in visual effects to tell what at its core is an action-adventure revenge story."

Scott Stuber is producing with Jim Lemley and Cormac and Marianne Wibberley.

Cooper and Collage received credit on the Steve Pink comedy "Accepted" and more recently did rewrite work on the Tom Bezucha-directed "The People’s House" and the McG-helmed "Nightcrawlers."