Centurion director Neil Marshall is no longer attached to direct the film adaptation of the 70s British television series The Professionals. Instead, the director has found himself attached to direct another project in place of The Professionals. Neil Marshall has revealed to Live For Films (via Comingsoon.net) that he’s currently writing an alien invasion movie, to be set during World War II. Details are limited as of the moment as the director just announced that he took the project.
As for news concerning The Professionals, Deadline reports the film is moving into its pre-production phase and Lionsgate has set their eyes on Tom Hardy, Gerard Butler and Jason Statham to play the scret agents, with Liam Neeson and Gary Oldman on their list to play their boss. This big-screen version will be an origin story, showing how ex-Spec Ops mercenary Bodie and counter-terrorism detective Doyle unite to work for covert UK security unit CI5.
“We really felt there was an opportunity for a bigger British action film,” says Lionsgate CEO Zygi Kamasa. “The ambition is to make a powerful commercial movie with the best of British talent.”
That cast sounds exceptionally good so despite Marshall leaving, I still have high hopes for this one.