We first heard about Eye in the Sky in September, when FilmNation acquired the script by Guy Hibbert and hired Oliver Hirschbiegel (Downfall) to direct.  Flash forward a few months, and director Tarsem Singh is describing what he would do with the movie if he convinces the studio to choose him instead.  Tarsem estimates that the following story requires 62 parts:

"It's about a drone attack, and what it means to the people playing with their thumbs in Nevada, what it means to the people saying, 'Go ahead and strike,' what it means to other politicians at war in Europe, and what it means to the people on the ground where it happens [in East Africa].  There are people who become collateral damage around the globe in a lot of ways.  It's a really contemporary, emotional piece."

Hit the jump for more from Tarsem.

Tarsem told The Playlist that he hopes to know within the week whether he'll replace Hirschbiegel.  (No word on how amicable the split would be.)  Tarsem goes on to describe Eye in the Sky as an "event film" that will be hard to make for the right price:

"I would like to make this kind of film, but unless it's a very big movie or a very small movie, it's tough. There doesn't seem to be a problem doing a $120 million movie, or a $2 million dollar movie, but that middle area is wiped out, especially if you don't want to use the same five actors everyone wants to work with."

The listed budgets for Tarsem's last movie (Immortals) and next movie (Mirror Mirror) are between $60-75 million.  But since each is probably an underestimate, and many a filmmaker has voiced a similar sentiment, the point is well taken.

Tarsem mentioned that Killing on Carnival Row, another project he is attached to, likely won't shoot until the summer.  Given that he is still in Mirror Mirror mode before the March 30 release, it's hard to imagine the director will have time to squeeze Eye in the Sky into the next few months, so it could take a while to come together.  Regardless, here's the official logline:

EYE IN THE SKY is a gripping international thriller that follows a group of characters around the globe as they are each impacted by the decision to drop a drone missile on a house in East Africa."