While his last movie, Poseidon, didn’t exactly break the bank, with Troy, The Perfect Storm, Air Force One, Ourbreak and In The Line Of Fire, director Wolfgang Petersen had a pretty impressive run of success. Paramount Pictures is obviously hoping he can regain that form, as they’ve bought the right to John Scalzi’s novel series, Old Man’s War, with Petersen attached to direct the feature adaptation.
David Self (Road To Perdition) will adapt the novels, which are about on a 75-year-old man who, after losing his true love, is given a younger, genetically-enhanced body to combine the wisdom and experience of older age with the strength of youth. He then joins an outer-space military coalition to protect human colonies.Inductees agree to leave their past lives on earth behind, and are promised land on distant human colonies if they live. Injured in battle, hes rescued by a special-forces officer who seems to be a younger version of his wife. She doesnt recognise him, but hes so convinced he has another chance with her that he abandons his unit and risks everything to be with her.
Scott Stuber will produce the adaptation, which is the first in a series of four books by John Scalzi (franchise alert!). Paramount is hoping to develop this into a major tentpole flick, with Petersen delivering the goods.