Liman
Doug Liman has signed to direct Warner Bros.' reboot of Alexandre Dumas' 17th-century adventure classic "The Three Musketeers."
Liman has been in talks to helm the project since early April. Warner's is fast-tracking "Musketeers" for a fall start of production.
Project was set up at the studio earlier this year by producer Lionel Wigram, who hired screenwriter Peter Straughan ("The Men Who Stare at Goats") and Bridget O'Connor to update the swashbuckling tale from Michael Robert Johnson's draft. Wigram, who also produced "Sherlock Holmes" for Warners, has a first-look deal with the studio.
Studio's prepping "Musketeers" as a re-invention of the Alexandre Dumas story and characters in the same manner as "Sherlock Holmes." Courtenay Valenti is overseeing for the studio.
"The Three Musketeers" centers on the impetuous D'Artagnan as he joins forces with three veteran musketeers -- Athos, Porthos and Aramis -- to battle the evil Cardinal Richelieu. No cast has yet been attached.
Brit helmer Paul W.S. Anderson is prepping a 3D version of the tale for Summit, with the backing of Germany's Constantin.
Liman signed on earlier this year to indie drama "Attica" from a screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher, Oscar winner for "Precious."
Contact Dave McNary at
dave.mcnary@variety.com