New Regency lands 'Man'

David Ayer to write, direct action film

By MICHAEL FLEMING

In a seven-figure deal, New Regency and 20th Century Fox closed a deal for “Last Man,” a pitch for a futuristic action film that David Ayer will write and direct.

In the pic, a hardened captain assigned to protect an outpost on a distant planet must lead a group of young, inexperienced American soldiers in battle against an alien race.

Pic will be produced by Erwin Stoff and Scott Stuber, with Stuber Co.’s Pam Abdy also serving in a producing capacity.

Ayer’s script work includes “Training Day” and “The Fast and the Furious.” He made his directing debut on his script “Harsh Times” and last directed “Street Kings.”

Ayer will write the project after he finishes penning “Deep Sea Cowboys,” a fact-based thriller for DreamWorks about a salvage crew that tries to save a capsized Japanese cargo ship that sank while transporting cars to the U.S. That pic, based on a Wired magazine article, is being produced by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.