Christopher Nolan might not be the only director in the running for Ready Player One. It’s being reported that Robert Zemeckis, Matthew Vaughn, Edgar Wright and Peter Jackson are all being considered as well. (Looks like you got your wish, Brendan!)
The film is based on Ernest Cline’s award-winning book of the same name. It takes place in the year 2044. The world isn’t in great shape thanks to the exhaustion of Earth’s fossil fuels, but at least people can escape the energy crisis and overpopulation by logging in to OASIS, a video game getaway. Hit the jump for more on the directors who are supposedly in the running to bring OASIS to the big screen.
Just yesterday is was reported that Nolan was offered the job, but according to Ain’t It Cool News, Vaughn, Wright and Jackson are still top choices and Zemeckis is the studio’s “dream pick.” I’ve never read the book (which will not be the case for much longer) so can’t speak to this, but AICN news notes that Zemeckis’ work is actually referenced in Ready Player One, so it makes sense that he’d be their ideal option.
However, I’m almost always partial to Wright, so I’m with Brendan on this one. These are five incredible talents we’re talking about here, so the project should be in good shape no matter who Warner Bros. goes with, but while reading Ready Player One, I certainly wouldn’t mind picturing it as a Wright-created realm.
Here’s the book synopsis via Amazon:
In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.
