Gore Verbinski has never pigeon-holed himself into a particular genre. The director has gone from MOUSE HUNT to THE RING to the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN to RANGO. With THE LONE RANGER coming this Summer, Verbinski is likely going to take another left turn on his next project.
The Film Stage has his next movie as an adaptation of the graphic novel PYONGYANG: A JOURNEY IN NORTH KOREA. With the country currently one of the more mysterious and odd enemies of the United States, it seems intriguing that a major motion picture would be made about it. But, the graphic novel is not RED DAWN but rather a more dramatic look at the country.
Plot: Famously referred to as one of the “Axis of Evil” countries, North Korea remains one of the most secretive and mysterious nations in the world today. In early 2001 cartoonist Guy Delisle became one of the few Westerners to be allowed access to the fortresslike country. While living in the nation’s capital for two months on a work visa for a French film animation company, Delisle observed what he was allowed to see of the culture and lives of the few North Koreans he encountered; his findings form the basis of this remarkable graphic novel. Pyongyang is an informative, personal, and accessible look at a dangerous and enigmatic country.
So, while this is going to be more dramatic in nature, Verbinski is adept at taking a skewed look at the humorous side of dark subjects. This could become a very interesting project for s director we don’t get to see much work from outside of studio blockbusters.