Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight) will play Adam Frankenstein in the Lakeshore Entertainment, Hopscotch Features and Lionsgate production of I, Frankenstein, which starts filming in Australia in January. The film was written and is to be directed by Stuart Beattie (director of Australia’s breakout hit Tomorrow, When the War Began, and writer of such films as “Pirates of the Caribbean,” G.I. Joe, 30 Days of Night and Collateral), and is based on a graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux, co-creator of the “Underworld” franchise. Lionsgate will distribute the film in the United States, Lakeshore will handle international sales and E1/Hopscotch will distribute in Australia. The U.S. release has been set for February 22, 2013.
Aaron Eckhart recently finished shooting the lead role as an ex-CIA agent in The Expatriate, and stars alongside Johnny Depp in the upcoming The Rum Diary.
I, Frankenstein is a modern-day epic: Frankenstein’s creature, Adam, has survived to present day due to a genetic quirk in his creation. Making his way to a dark, gothic metropolis, he finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries old war between two immortal clans. As writer/director, Stuart Beattie said, “Mary Shelly’s story is about the creation of the first human being. This is the story about that being becoming human.”
“We are thrilled to again be collaborating with Lakeshore Entertainment, and Aaron Eckhart, one of today’s most versatile and talented actors. This story is all about what it means to be human, and there could be no more achingly human performance than the one Aaron gave in our own ‘Rabbit Hole.’ We are so excited to see what he will bring to this role,” said Lionsgates co-COO and Motion Picture Group President Joe Drake of the production. “This is a wonderfully imaginative script and we are looking forward to seeing it brought to life by a talented filmmaker, and to bringing this story to our loyal genre fans.”
“We’ve tremendously enjoyed making our ‘Underworld’ franchise films and we are looking forward to working with Stuart and our partners at Hopscotch and Lionsgate to create a new world for a legendary character,” said Lakeshore’s Tom Rosenberg, adding “We know that Aaron, with his proven range, depth and intelligence, is going to make an iconic Adam.”
Troy Lum of Hopscotch said, “We have wanted to work with Stuart on a big film in Australia and when we had the opportunity earlier this year to expand our relationship with Lakeshore on the creation of a potential franchise, it all came together.”
Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Andrew Mason (who produced Beattie’s Tomorrow, When the War Began) and Richard Wright of Lakeshore are producing the film, with Hopscotch’s Troy Lum and Kevin Grevioux as executive producers.
Michael Paseornek, Lionsgate’s President of Motion Picture Development and Production will be shepherding the project at the studio.
