Robert Schwentke Heads To HBO To Direct Pilot Episode Of 'The Lobotomist'

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by Kevin Jagernauth
November 28, 2011 9:45 AM
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With "R.I.P.D." not slated to hit theaters until 2013, director Robert Schwentke will have a some time to kill until then. Late this summer, he lined up what is expected to be his next feature film, "The Poison Kitchen," a film set in the early days of the Nazi's rise to power, marking a change of pace for the director. With that film set lens to sometime next year, it looks like he'll make a quick detour to television first.

Variety reports that Schwentke will tackle the pilot episode of HBO's "The Lobotomist." Based on the book by Jack El-Hai, the series will be based on the true story of Dr. Walter Freeman, the dubious/infamous pioneer of the titular surgery which made him both a source of controversy and a groundbreaking surgeon all in one go. Daniel Thomson ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," "Melrose Place") will be writing the script which we'd guess/hope will be like neither of those shows. And the show has some powerhouse producers behind it including Leonardo DiCaprio (via his Appian Way shingle) and celebrated screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis. Not too shabby.

The material is certainly fascinating and it's not the first time El-Hai's book has inspired some must-watch television. The story prompted the PBS "American Experience" documentary of the same name (watch below). As for Schwentke, it will be his second visit to the small screen after directing the pilot of Fox's kind of terrible "Lie To Me."

No word yet on when this will roll, but we assume it will go between movies for Schwentke. The material is fascinating, so we'll be curious to see this one develop.

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