Oscar-Nominated 'Kon-Tiki' Directors To Make Hollywood Debut With 'Spectral'

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by Ken Guidry
January 14, 2013 11:40 AM
3 Comments

Looks like Norwegian filmmakers Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg are having a great week. First, their film “Kon-Tiki” gets nominated for an Oscar on Thursday for Best Foreign Language Film. Now, they look to capitalize on all of their recent success, signing a seven-figure deal to helm a big Hollywood film. And one that could be the start of a potential franchise.

Deadline reports that the pair are signing up to helm "Spectral" for Legendary Pictures (the home to Christopher Nolan's Batman movies, the upcoming "Pacific Rim" and "Man Of Steel" just to give you an idea of the kind of blockbuster we might be talking about here). With a treatment by Ian Fried (Hammer Films brewing Jack The Ripper movie "Gaslight") and a recent draft by Jayson Rothwell ("Silent Night," the recently aborted Snow White movie "Order Of The Seven") "Spectral" is said to be "a supernatural 'Black Hawk Down' " -- and no, we don't have any idea what that means either.

In any event, the film is a step up for the duo who started with the WWII drama "Max Manus," and earned more attention for "Kon-Tiki," an adventure story of sorts set up on a raft. But someone has faith that these guys can pack the multiplex, and we can understand why they'd want the resources and money of a major studio to play with. No word yet on when this might roll, but if they take home Oscar gold next month, we'd reckon things will start moving very fast. See the trailer for "Kon-Tiki" below, and look for the film when The Weinstein Company releases it later this year.

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More: Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, Spectral, Kon-Tiki

3 Comments

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Ak | January 14, 2013 2:23 PMReply

They have already made an Hollywood film. Bandidas with Salma Hayek...
Xas | January 14, 2013 2:45 PM

Actually Bandidas was a mostly french production of EuropaCorp. -The same studio of Luc Besson-. The American money was mostly by independent funds. Even when Salma and Penelope were the leads
MAL | January 14, 2013 11:53 AMReply

Saw this at TIFF and loved it. A great, rousing adventure, full of suspense and wonder. It doesn't have the depth of something like Amour (which will easily take the Foreign Film Oscar) but it is a great entertainment. I look forward to what these guys do next whatever it is.