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Alex Proyas to direct Robert A Heinlein adaptation in Australia

Australian director Alex Proyas is to direct an adaptation of a Robert A Heinlein novella, bringing the film to Australia, it’s been announced.

The news comes just two months after Proyas had his adaptation of John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost scratched for budget reasons by production company Legendary Pictures. It was due to start filming in February.

As well as directing, Proyas’s Mystery Clock Cinema will co-produce an adaptation of Heinlein’s The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag.

Producing alongside will be Mike Medavoy and Arnie Messier of Phoenix Pictures, Bradley Fischer of Mythology Entertainment and Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland of Red Granite and Vince Gerardis. Joe Gatta, Topher Dow and Vincent Sieber are to executive produce. The production will be fully financed by Red Granite who are also producing Martin Scorsese’s forthcoming The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Producers are looking to begin shooting in Autumn of this year, according to reports.

Proyas adapted the screenplay. The story was inspiration for his 1998 film Dark City.

The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag is the story of a man who has no memory of what he does during the day. He employs a husband and wife detective team to follow his movements. They discover his involvement with shadowy figures who warn the team to back off for fear of divulging Hoag’s true identity.

Paradise Lost was halted after production company Legendary Pictures struggled to bring the production down to $120m.

Proyas is also signed on to contribute to John Polson’s Sydney Unplugged.

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