After Dawson’s Creek, Joshua Jackson went off and tried to be a movie star for a while in the likes of Cruel Intentions and Cursed, but it didn’t turn out that great and so we’ve currently got him back on TV in the JJ Abrams sci-fi show, Fringe. However it now appears he’s making another break for big screen stardom, as he’s signed up to play the lead role in a movie adapation of Gerry Anderson’s early 70s series, UFO.
Variety reports Jackson will play Paul Foster, a test pilot who joins S.H.A.D.O. (Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organisation), which has its headquarters under a Hollywood studio (for some reason) and defends the Earth against a race of aliens who like to abduct humans and use their body parts.
Although Gerry Anderson is best-known for his marionette series, UFO was his first live-action show. While it only lasted a single season, it’s been a cult hit ever since.
The movie version is due to be helmed by special effects whizz Matthew Gratzner, who’s overseen the visual effects on everything from Iron Man to Shutter Island, which should ensure that UFO looks good, if nothing else. In fact it’s become noticeable in the last couple of years how many effects guys are getting directing gigs, which just goes to show how important CG is becoming in making major movies.
The film is due to be shot in the UK in the Spring (presumably once Jackson has finished work on the second season of Fringe), with the script being handled by Ryan Gaudet and Joseph Kanarek.