No one’s is ever going to launch an Oscar campaign for Need for Speed, but there’s a case to be made for unpretentious, action-packed popcorn pleasures like the racing thriller. Aaron Paul gave a mesmerizing performance, the stunts were spectacular and, perhaps best of all, it proved that helmer Scott Waugh (Act of Valor) knows his way around a slick action vehicle. Now, Waugh is set to dive into the deep end for a much pricier venture – a $120 million sci-epic titled Inversion.
The script, from Bragi Schut (Season of the Witch) and David Arata (Spy Game), follows a young Chinese scientist and a street-smart American ex-patriate who team up and race against time to prevent a cataclysmic reversal of gravity, which would send entire cities and civilians falling into the sky to certain death.
It’s an exciting premise, and Waugh’s background as a stunt coordinator should make him an ideal fit for the project. No actors have yet been attached to Inversion, but casting announcements are sure to follow in the coming weeks.
Official press release below:
LOS ANGELES (November 5, 2014) –Filmmaker Scott Waugh (NEED FOR SPEED, ACT OF VALOR) is currently in final negotiations to direct the $120 million sci-fi epic INVERSION.
The film follows two unlikely heroes, a young Chinese scientist and a street smart American expat, on a frenzied journey across the globe to save Earth from an apocalyptic threat – a total reversal of gravity that causes whole cities and civilizations to uproot and plummet into the sky. With the writing team of Bragi Schut (SEASON OF THE WITCH) and Academy Award® nominee David Arata (CHILDREN OF MEN, SPY GAME), INVERSION will be produced by Academy Award® nominee Michael Nozik (SYRIANA, THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES), Markus Barmettler (CONVICTION) and Philip Lee (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, CLOUD ATLAS). INVERSION is currently in pre-production with a planned start date of late April 2015.
Foresight Unlimited will continue sales on the picture, which was first introduced to buyers in Cannes.
Scott Waugh has appeared in some of the greatest action sequences ever put to film, including international blockbusters such as SPIDER-MAN, MR. & MRS. SMITH, THE ITALIAN JOB, BAD BOYS II, and XXX. As a director he has translated this knowledge and expertise into delivering action packed and thrilling box office winners such as DreamWorks’ NEED FOR SPEED, which grossed $200m worldwide earlier this year.
Scott Waugh, co-founded Bandito Brothers, the trend setting commercial production company and is represented by WME.
Foresight Unlimited is one of the industry’s leading independent film production, sales, and distribution companies. With a pioneering entertainment career spanning over 50 years, CEO, Mark Damon is considered to be one of the leading authorities on international film financing, distribution and marketing strategies as well as being a successful independent producer.The company’s management group is helmed by President Tamara Birkemoe who oversees all aspects of the company’s slate that currently includes 2 recent #1 US box office hits, LONE SURVIVOR directed by Peter Berg and starring Mark Wahlberg, 2 GUNS starring Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington. Also, Rob Reiner’s comedy AND SO IT GOES starring Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton, released wide in the US in July, and SPINNING GOLD, set to star Justin Timberlake and to be directed by Spike Lee, in pre-production.
Damon has produced and distributed such notable films as: Academy Award ® winner MONSTER, Academy Award ® nominee DAS BOOT, 91/2 WEEKS, ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, THE NEVER ENDING STORY, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, LOST BOYS, LONE SURVIVOR, and 2 GUNS.
