Louis Leterrier, best known for wrangling raging Hulks (in The Incredible Hulk) and hungry Krakens (in Clash of the Titans) will tempt fate once again as Deadline reports the Frenchman will direct Sony’s shark survival thriller In the Deep.
Here’s the synopsis: A young twenty-something woman dealing with the recent death of her mother is surfing on an isolated beach and gets stranded 20 yards offshore on a buoy. What lies between her and the shore is a huge great white shark. She must find a way back to shore before succumbing to her injuries.
So In the Deep is basically Jaws by way of 127 Hours, Open Water and Gravity, with a plum role for an ambitious young actress who can command our attention while clinging to a buoy for two hours. The ocean-bound Black List script by Anthony Jaswinski made waves last September when it sold to Sony, with Weimaraner Republic Pictures partners Lynn Harris and Matti Leshem attached to produce.
“Louis’ take knocked us out and our intention is to elevate this above the genre, making terrifying but psychologically deep,” Lesham said. “It has the makings of incredible survival story, but it also goes to the very core of fear on every level. It is a really frightening movie.”
Leterrier recently scored a surprise box office smash with Now You See Me, and is in post for a February 2016 release on the Sacha Baron Cohen spy spoof Grimsby, also for Sony.
(Photo Credit: WENN)