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It's a good thing that McG has a lot of projects going at once because his planned adaptation/spin-of Captain Nemo: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea has run aground.  Disney has put the picture on indefinite hold after tentatively scheduled to begin shooting this February.  However, the closest the film ever came to casting the title role was a rumor that Will Smith may sign on, but beyond that no other names were ever connected with the role of Nemo.  This is unfortunate because it would have really been great to stick it to India by casting a non-Indian as the famous anti-hero.  Bill Marsilli's script would have followed Nemo's origin and his construction of his warship, The Nautillus.  Hit the jump to find out why this isn't a tragedy for anyone.

With McG off the project, the Terminator Salvation director will turn his attention to the drama Dead Spy Running, written by Stephen Gaghan (Syriana).  While McG is also attached to a fifth Terminator film, that's stuck in as the franchise's bankruptcy's proceedings wind through court.

As for Disney, they'll still continue to support big budget action flicks with Tron Legacy and John Carter of Mars as top priorities.  They also have another big seafaring movie in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago).  It all leaves me a little curious as to why Disney wanted Captain Nemo in the first place.  Maybe it's because kids today love Jules Verne as much as they love their Facepages and PlayBoxes.

[Variety]