There’s already a new BBC adaptation of HG Wells’ War Of The Worlds on the way, starring Rafe Spall and Eleanor Tomlinson, but it seems like Hollywood can’t leave the classic alone either.
THR reports that Fox Networks and Canal+ are already deep into pre-production on a new take on the alien invasion story from Misfits creator Howard Overman that will be set in the present day.
In Overman’s story, “when astronomers detect a transmission from another galaxy, it is definitive proof of intelligent extra-terrestrial life. Earth’s population waits for further contact with baited breath, but does not have to wait long. Within days, mankind is all but wiped out, with just pockets of humanity are left in an eerily deserted world. As alien ships appear in the sky, the survivors ask a burning question — who are these attackers and why are they hell-bent on our destruction?”
Overman said “In many ways HG Wells’ novel is a cautionary tale of racial superiority and ethnic conflict. It is these themes that I wanted to explore more fully in my modern re-imagining. I look forward to bringing our bold, fresh and relatable version, inspired by this much-loved story to a new audience.”
Production is set to start in the autumn so we should expect to hear casting announcements and some more plot details soon. Overman is producing alongside his regular collaborators Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps, and the show is set for a 2019 air date.
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