The long mooted sci-fi action flick John Carter Of Mars has another director. After first being announced as a project for Robert Rodriguez (who had to step down when he resigned from the Director' Guild Of America to make Sin City), Kerry Conran was all set to make it. Now, for reasons as yet unknown, the job has gone to actor / director Jon Favreau.
The book – the first in a series penned by Edgar Rice Burroughs – is considered something of a hot property, and the screenplay has been adapted by Ehren Kruger (he of The Ring fame).
The story concerns a veteran of the American Civil War, who while hiding in a cave to avoid capture by Apaches, falls through a time portal to an alien planet (named Barsoom), where he is promptly taken prisoner by its 12 foot high green inhabitants.
The film is being overseen by Alphaville productions' Sean Daniel and Jim Jacks, with Harry Knowles as co-producer. No production or release dates have yet been set.