After his only two released films to date, Mama (2013) and the unbelievable successful remake It (2017), Andy Muschietti has become one of the hype directors in Hollywood horror making. Currently, he is in the state of post-production of the sequel It: Chapter Two (2019), that although it’s almost impossible that it can repeat the success of its predecessor for sure it will become one of the most important genre titles of next year. But, still, projects get piled up on the filmmaker’s desk. Because if it was recently confirmed that he will direct a feature film adaptation of Hajime Isayama‘s manga about a monster hunter out for revenge Attack on Titans for Warner Bros., now it’s also been announced via a Deadline exclusive that he will be in charge of the remake of 1960s science fiction classic The Time Machine (1960).
Based on the novel by H. G. Wells published in 1895, it depicts how on January 5, 1900, a disheveled looking George Wells arrives late to his own dinner party. He tells his guests of his travels in his time machine, the work about which his friends knew. They were also unbelieving, and skeptical of any practical use if it did indeed work. George knew that his machine was stationary in geographic position, but he did not account for changes in what happens over time to that location. He also learns that the machine is not impervious and he is not immune to those who do not understand him or the machine’s purpose. George tells his friends that he did not find the Utopian society he so wished had developed. He mentions specifically a civilization several thousand years into the future which consists of the subterranean Morlocks and the surface dwelling Eloi, who on first glance lead a carefree life. Despite all these issues, love can still bloom over the spread of millennia. This plot is taken from the movie page on IMDB, in case someone wants to check it.
Besides the movie from 1960, the popular H. G. Wells novel, the first time even the term “time machine” was used as a vehicle to travel purposely and selectively forwards or backward in time, has had other adaptations. Along several decades, it has been the object of different radio broadcasts, telefilms and comic books. The most recent popular film adaptation, also a Warner Bros. production, was early this new millennium was Simon Wells’ The Time Machine (2002), starring Guy Pearce as the Time Traveller.
For this new The Time Machine movie, Arnold Leibovit is executive producer and Barbara Muschietti will produce, as she has done with all the movies directed by her brother Andy. The Muschiettis have written a treatment for the film, which seems to be the one that has got the green light. Appian Way’s Jennifer Davisson and Leonardo DiCaprio are also in the production team, together with Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures.
