Tobey Maguire will reunite with his The Ice Storm and Ride With The Devil director Ang Lee for the big screen adaptation of Yann Martel's novel Life of Pi.
Hollywood has been itching to make a theatrical version of the Canadian author's book since it was released in 2001. The novel tells the story of Piscine "Pi" Molitor Patel, an Indian boy (played by 17-year-old unknown Suraj Sharma) who survives 227 days after a shipwreck, while stranded on a boat with a hyena, an injured zebra, an orangutan, and a hungry Bengal tiger.
The unknown actor from New Delhi beat out 3,000 other hopefuls for the main role back in October. According to Variety, the former Spider-Man star is set to play a writer who interviews Pi "about his life-changing experience." The project has passed hands from Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie) and Alfanso Curson (Children of Men) to M. Night Shyamalan (who claimed he wouldn't make the film because audiences would expect a twist—go figure). Lee signed on to direct in 2009 and Fox is spending $50+ million to make sure his "3D magical fantasy-adventure crammed with visual effects" is worth every penny.
Can 3D be used as a successful storytelling device? Lee believes so, having said, "The ocean is perfect for 3D. I think it will change the way people experience the sea."
Let's just hope there isn't any gamma-ray induced dogs at the bottom of that ship. The film is reportedly shooting in Taiwan and India and is expected to hit theaters in December 2012.
[via The Wrap]
