'Rust' - Joe Cornish Directing Adaptation of the Comic

[Walts Ghost]

Attack the Block director (and The Adventures of Tintin co-writer) Joe Cornish is one of a couple young filmmakers that Fox has latched on to. Another is Josh Trank, just set to direct Fantastic Four. At the same time as Fox announced that it would move forward with a Josh Trank-directed Fantastic Four, and that a new director is needed for Daredevil, there’s news that Cornish has been set to direct an adaptation of the graphic novel Rust: Visitor in the Field.

The original story is by Royden Lepp, with Aline Brosh McKenna scripting based on Lepp’s graphic novel. The story follows a family whose lives are changed when a jetpack-wearing boy crashes into their barn while being chased by a giant old war robot.

Here’s a description of Rust:

Rust is a high-octane adventure set in the prairie lands of an unknown time. Life on the Taylor family farm was difficult enough before Jet Jones crashes into the barn, chased by a giant decommissioned war robot! Oldest son Roman Taylor struggles to keep his family’s small farm afloat as the area heals from a devastating world war. While the rest of his family may not trust the mysterious boy with the jetpack, Roman believes the secrets of Jet’s past may be the key to their survival.

I’ve seen comparisons that link Rust to E.T., and to The Rocketeer, and even to the movies of Hayao Miyazaki. I haven’t read Rust, however, so I don’t know how on point those are. Looking at pages of the graphic novel online, however, and via the iPad app, I’m impressed at what I see, and this might be one of the books I have to grab while at Comic Con. The storytelling seems to be done primarily through action and movement, rather than dialogue, and I can see how aspects of it might seem like perfect inspiration for a film. And with Cornish directing, it might be truly special.

http://www.slashfilm.com/attack-bloc...like-film-fox/

[Walts Ghost]

Director Carlos Saldanha in Talks to Helm RUST after Joe Cornish Exits

Director Carlos Saldanha (Rio) is reportedly in talks to direct Rust for 20th Century Fox. Joe Cornish (Attack the Block) was previously attached to direct, but reports have him exiting the picture a couple of weeks ago with no explicit reasoning. Created, written and illustrated by Royden Lepp, Rust centers on a small farming family in a war-torn land whose daily life is disturbed by the crash-landing of Jet Jones, a mysterious boy with a jetpack. The family’s oldest son, Roman, begins to suspect that the secrets Jones possesses could be the key to their survival. Hit the jump for more.

The Wrap reports that Saldanha has already met with the creative team behind Rust and has entered into negotiations to direct. Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada) adapted Lepp’s first volume of Rust for the adaptation. More on Rust follow below (via Archaia):

rust-visitor-in-the-field-book-coverRUST VOL. 1: VISITOR IN THE FIELD
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover

Life on the Taylor family farm was difficult enough before Jet Jones crashes into the barn, chased by a giant decommissioned war robot! Oldest son Roman Taylor struggles to keep his family’s small farm afloat as the area heals from a devastating world war. While the rest of his family may not trust the mysterious boy with the jetpack, Roman believes the secrets of Jet’s past may be the key to their survival.

RUST VOL. 2: SECRETS OF THE CELL
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover

In this follow-up to the critically acclaimedRust Vol. 1: Visitor in the Field, the dysfunctional Taylor family continues to rebuild their farm lives after the devastating loss of a recent war, and the appearance of the mysterious jetpack-wearing boy, Jet Jones. Jet’s behavior continues to raise youngest brother Oswald’s suspicion, particularly when the appearance of another robot invader puts them all in danger! Rust Vol. 2 is presented in nostalgic sepia tone, bound in high-quality blue cloth, with photographic end papers that set the industrial atmosphere of the title.

Source

Damn, sad that Cornish is no longer involved. I really looked forward to seeing what he was going to do with it.

[cinemaphile]

so, from Attack the Block director, Ant-Man writer, and Edgar Wright protege to the director of Ice Age and Rio? That's a pretty interest-killing change for me.

[PopcornBandit]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

so, from Attack the Block director, Ant-Man writer, and Edgar Wright protege to the director of Ice Age and Rio? That's a pretty interest-killing change for me.

Agreed.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

so, from Attack the Block director, Ant-Man writer, and Edgar Wright protege to the director of Ice Age and Rio? That's a pretty interest-killing change for me.

That's how I'm feeling too...I really love the series, and I was looking forward to seeing what he'd do with it on film. It seems like they're really downgrading...

[cinemaphile]

this new choice of a director raises the question: is it even still a live-action movie?
It's possible of course. I mean Brad Bird, Andrew Stanton, etc made the move from animation to live action. But I wonder if they just decided to take this is a new direction and go animated.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

this new choice of a director raises the question: is it even still a live-action movie?
It's possible of course. I mean Brad Bird, Andrew Stanton, etc made the move from animation to live action. But I wonder if they just decided to take this is a new direction and go animated.

I could see that. It could make a killer animated movie...But I really want to see it live action. Fox could be getting cold feet though and decided animation might be cheaper and more feasible to make. Either way, it's disheartening...

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by Walts Ghost

I could see that. It could make a killer animated movie...But I really want to see it live action. Fox could be getting cold feet though and decided animation might be cheaper and more feasible to make. Either way, it's disheartening...

it IS disheartening. And though the story has the potential to be a killer animated movie, if it is animated I don't see it being anything but a kid's movie with this guy's filmography. If it's animated, it probably doesn't stray too far from his previous work and is all cartoony, family-friendly, and slapstick-y.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

it IS disheartening. And though the story has the potential to be a killer animated movie, if it is animated I don't see it being anything but a kid's movie with this guy's filmography. If it's animated, it probably doesn't stray too far from his previous work and is all cartoony, family-friendly, and slapstick-y.

Everything the series isn't. I'm really worried over this now.