LORD OF THE RINGS actor Karl Urban is in talks to star in PATHFINDER, a Viking epic produced by Phoenix Pictures and director Marcus Nispel (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE remake), according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. 20th Century Fox will distribute.
The film is a remake of Nils Gaups 1987 Norwegian picture, which Phoenix acquired the rights to in 2001. The original followed Norway's warlike clans around the year 1000 A.D., however the redo script from scribe Laeta Kalogridis (ALEXANDER) moves the action to North America around the same time.
The story follows a Viking boy who is accidentally left behind during a battle between the Vikings and American Indians. The Indians adopt the boy who must later fight his countrymen when they return to destroy the village.
Shooting is set to start Sept. 21 in Vancouver with a budget of about $30 million.
Phoenix's Mike Medavoy and Arnold Messer will produce along with Nispel. Phoenix's Brad Fischer is exec producing alongside the original's producer John Jacobsen and Lee Nelson.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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