Director Mathieu Kassovitz (La Haine) is set to direct an English-language live-action/animated hybrid film titled The Big War, which is inspired by the French graphic novel La Bete Est Morte.
This is the first film that Kassovitz has made in 13 years, and while you may not be familiar with his work, you will definitely be familiar with the writer who wrote the script.
The Big War was written by Caroline Thompson, who previously worked on projects such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and Edward Scissorhands.
This is a passion project for the filmmaker, who said: “This is a project I’ve been working on for twenty years. It is inspired by cult French graphic novel La Bete Est Morte, which was written during the Second World War.”
The director talked about the story, saying: “It reimagines that war as enacted by animals. The Nazis are the wolves who go after the ‘vermin’ — the rabbits — who represent the war’s victims.”
He added: “The story focuses on two rabbits who go after their family who have been taken away and on their journey they discover adventures and more rabbits who join their cause.”
Thompson shared: “It’s a heartfelt, lovely story. We’ve been passing it between ourselves for quite a while. Mathieu is a wonderful person to work with and this has nudged me back into writing.”
Kassovitz talked about the film’s production, saying: “I’m shooting the movie with real locations and set-pieces and then the animal characters will be dropped in, so I’ll be shooting a movie that will be delivered to the animators.”
He continued: “We’re now in the design phase and looking for financiers and want to start production by the end of the year. We will have a budget in the $30M range and we’re in discussions with American and British actors whose names I can’t reveal just yet.”
The project is being produced by Aton Soumache who previously worked on films such as The Little Prince and Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, the Movie.
Source: Deadline