The project eyed to become a potential franchise, 20th Century Fox has today set director Carlos Saldanha to helm Shadows. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, bringing word that the original feature will mark the live-action debut of the Rio director, who will base the feature on a pitch from “Black List” screenwriter Jason Micallef.
Said to combine live action with CGI monsters, Shadows is set in the world of cryptozoology, the study of mythic and legendary creatures such as Bigfoot, the Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster. Micallef was, some years ago, developing a cryptozoology-themed project with the Universal-based Illumination Entertainment with Jack Black attached to produce. Whether or not this is some variation of that same project is unclear. The story in Shadows is said to have been mapped out as a trilogy, however.
In addition to directing Rio and its sequel, Saldanha co-directed the original Ice Age and two of its sequels, The Meltdown and Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Micallef, meanwhile, is best known for scripting the 2011 comedy drama Butter. He’s currently working on Fox’s upcoming Play-Doh movie, which has Paul Feig attached to helm.
Trevor Engelson and Josh McGuire are attached to produce Shadows alongside Maresa Pullman and Saldanha himself.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
