Robert Zemeckis to make Flight his next film, Denzel Washington attached to star

While filmmaker Robert Zemeckis (A CHRISTMAS CAROL, BACK TO THE FUTURE) has been weighing his options as to what feature he’d be making his next official project, the LA Times’ 24 Frames is now reporting that the director and Paramount have decided to move forward with the airplane drama FLIGHT.

As reported back in April, the always wonderful Denzel Washington (SAFE HOUSE, UNSTOPPABLE) remains attached to star in the film’s main role, that of “a pilot who rescues his passengers from a dangerous situation but who turns out not to be as heroic as he appears — he’s an addict whose negligence was partly responsible for the danger in the first place.” There had apparently been some question as to whether or not Washington would be able to schedule in the film, but a source tells 24 Frames that the actor will actually be closing a deal for FLIGHT shortly.

Back to Zemeckis – the new project will mark the first time the filmmaker’s done a live-action film since CASTAWAY. In the decade since, the tech-head director has focused primarily on films using creepy motion capture technology to somewhat mixed end results.

FLIGHT is said to be starting production this fall.