Movies News

Zak Penn working on ‘The Argonauts’ for 20th Century Fox

By Patrick Luce Aug 12, 2008, 12:35 GMT

Zak Penn is moving from the comics to the sword-and-sandals genre with a deal to write and produce "The Argonauts" for 20th Century Fox. The new film will be produced by John Davis ("Alien vs. Predator").Variety reports the genre (which came back in style with “Gladiator”) is still a hot commodity in Hollywood thanks to films like "300." Warner Bros. is at work on a remake of the classic film "Clash of the Titans" with Louis Leterrier set to direct the film. The studio is also working on a follow-up film to “300.” Relativity Media has fast-tracked the film "War of Gods" – which follows Greek warrior Theseus as he fights against imprisoned titans. Currently, there are at least three Hercules movies that are in development - including Universal Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment’s "Hercules: The Thracian Wars" with Peter Berg signed to direct. Universal is also at work on a "God of War" film based on the Greek themed video game with Brett Ratner directing. Fox’s "The Argonauts" will be based on Penn’s original adaptation of the classic Greek tale about the Argonauts (heroic sailors) in the years before the Trojan War. The group of men joined Jason on his quest to find the Golden Fleece. The story of the Argonauts has made it to film several times - including the 1963 film "Jason and the Argonauts" and a NBC miniseries in 2000. DreamWorks is at work on a film (also titled "The Argonauts") about treasure hunters who find the wreckage of a ship which could have captained by Jason. The treasure hunters are then shot back in time to ancient Greece.Penn is also at work writing a screenplay for “The Avengers” based on the Marvel comic.