Universal Pictures is teaming up with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company for a new disaster movie, currently called Earthquake. Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk) has been hired to write the screenplay, according to Deadline.
No specific story details are known, although it has been revealed that this is not a remake of Universal’s 1974 film Earthquake, which starred Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner. J.J. Abrams will produce alongside his Bad Robot partner Bryan Burk. The project was first set up at the studio back in 2008, with The Omen writer David Seltzer penning the script.
J.J. Abrams will be competing with a similar project called San Andreas: 3D at New Line Cinema. Lost producer Carlton Cuse (and therefore a former Abrams cohort) is writing the screenplay for that one, with Brad Peyton (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island) directing.