More than 130 years down the line, it seems like people are never going to get tired of hearing stories and theories about the mysterious serial killer known as "Jack the Ripper". XYZ Films are certainly hoping that there's still an audience for Jack the Ripper tales, as they are partnering with GFC Films and Royal Viking Entertainment on the Ripper project IMMORTAL.
SPECIES director Roger Donaldson has signed on to helm the film and will be working from a screenplay written by Peter A. Dowling (FLIGHTPLAN, SACRIFICE). The story follows
hot-shot Detective Byrnes and rookie cop James McCafferty, whose morals are conflicting, as they work together on the hunt for London’s serial killer Jack the Ripper who, some believe, sailed to New York after his London killings suddenly ceased in 1888.
IMMORTAL will go into production later this year, with filming to take place in New Zealand and the UK.
GFC Films' Matthew Metcalfe is producing IMMORTAL, with XYZ Films and Royal Viking's Sean Sorensen executive producing.
Donaldson had this to say:
This is an exciting project that I am enthused to be a part of. Jack the Ripper is a haunting and malevolent historical character, and the stories of what happened to him after the London murders refuse to go away. I am looking forward to working with producer Matthew Metcalfe again, to bring this cerebral and thrilling project to audiences."
Donaldson and Metcalfe previously worked together on the 2017 documentary McLAREN. In addition to SPECIES and McLAREN, Donaldson's other directing credits include COCKTAIL, the 1994 version of THE GETAWAY, DANTE'S PEAK, and THE NOVEMBER MAN.