Looks like Warner Bros. wants director Doug Liman for another sci-fi project. The studios' EDGE OF TOMORROW opens in a few weeks, and according to THR, they are in negotiations with Liman for an adaptation of an upcoming children's book called RAILHEAD. The novel comes from author Philip Reeve, who also wrote the Mortal Engines series, Here Lies Arthur and the Larklight trilogy.
Book description from THR:
The novel, for readers age 10-11 years old, is set in a futuristic world where trains run through space via portals. The main character is a petty thief hired to steal an object that happens to be more important than he was led to believe, setting off an adventure that could change the course of the galaxy. It's said to be packed with interesting characters — human or otherwise.
I haven't read any of Reeve's books, but apparently his Mortal Engines and Larklight novels feature some odd characters set in a sci-fi steampunk universe.
Production on Doug Liman's SPLINTER CELL movie with Tom Hardy should start sometime in August, and Liman could direct RAILHEAD after completing work on the video game adaptation, although at one point he was also attached to the thriller NARCO SUB. Still, I think there's a good chance RAILHEAD could be his next project after SPLINTER CELL, especially if EDGE OF TOMORROW is a huge hit for Warner Bros.
Doug Liman's EDGE OF TOMORROW starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton will be in theaters on June 6th, 2014.