And here I was, somewhat hoping we’d get that Charlie Kaufman-scripted YA adaptation. (What is happening to me?) While Variety‘s story makes only the briefest mention of Chaos Walking, yours truly is nevertheless pleased to see Robert Zemeckis keeping projects at hand — especially after his successful reemergence via Flight — this next potential title being none other than a documentary remake: coming back to Universal, he’s signed to helm a narrative adaptation of the award-winning 2010 documentary, Marwencol, which brings with it a tale so incredible that, from my perspective, a transition to more traditional forms of narrative presentation might work just fine.
Centered on the life of photographer Mark Hogancamp, Marwencol followed his experiences after a brutal beating that left the man with nearly no memory of any prior life. To cope with the severe mental trauma brought about by this occurrence, Hogancamp began constructing “a one-sixth scale WWII-era town called Marwencol in his backyard,” with the intention to both restore a sense of hand-eye coordination and “therapeutically recover from the psychological demons he still has from the beating.” By populating the area with doll replicas of friends, family, and the five people who attacked him, said trauma, itself, becomes an escape from the difficult reality of a post-attack life. Here’s where things get interesting: perhaps giving the title a more justifiable presence in this new incarnation, it’s expected that Universal’s Marwencol will “move between and blend fantasy and reality” — which, in turn, likely gives Zemeckis a chance to exert his fetishism for smaller-scale, narrative-driven visual effects. (As a fan of such implementation, I’m elated by the possibility.)
His own’ ImageMovers will produce the title, which Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands) has been tapped to write the screenplay for. At this point in time, the director’s top choice to portray Hogancamp is Leonardo DiCaprio, though this, needless to say, doesn’t mean he’ll take the role, seeing as the man’s schedule is as opportunity-filled as it is occupied. But regardless of whoever takes the top spot — if this project ever really does come about, at least — the pure potential of its story is difficult to deny; in the meantime, let’s all catch up with the original picture on Netflix.
What do you think of Marwencol getting a new spin, and from this possible team?