Dune Screenwriter Jon Spaihts To Direct Laika Studios Live-Action Sci-Fi Thriller

There's no rest for the wicked — or for Laika Studios, either, it would seem. With the Oregon based outfit preparing to release long-gestating fantasy stop-motion epic Wildwood next year, their self-described "hardest" film to date, the studio could've been forgiven for taking some time out for a bit of a breather. But with recent months bringing news of live-action Brian Duffield movie Crumble and a Piranesi adaptation from Laika CEO and Kubo & The Two Strings director Travis Knight joining the studio's slate, things have been all systems go over in Portland. And now another project has found its way into the Laika pipeline — a live-action sci-fi thriller from Jon Spaihts, best known as the co-writer of Denis Villeneuve's Dune and Alien prequel Prometheus.

Plot details regarding Spaihts' movie, which will mark the prolific screenwriter's directorial debut, are being kept largely under wraps for now. However, the enigmatic logline for the film does reveal that the plot is set to centre around a woman who finds herself investigating a mystery that took place during a week she can't remember. Don't you just hate it when that happens, eh? Maybe the as-yet-uncast protagonist should've taken a leaf out of Guy Pearce's book and tattooed all the mystery's details before she forgot them, Memento style... just a thought!

**“**Laika has long admired Jon's iconic work as a screenwriter,” said Laika's President, Live-Action Film & Series, Matt Levin in a statement accompanying the movie's announcement.  “He is one of the most imaginative and inventive storytellers working today, and we're honoured to partner with him as he brings his unique vision and soul to the director's chair for the first time with a wholly original idea that is as thought-provoking as it is moving.” Added director Spaihts: “This is an original passion project I’ve been eager to turn to for a while, and I couldn’t ask for better partners. Laika has a clear creative vision, and a tradition of meticulous, bespoke storytelling that suits this project very well.”

With this latest new Laika project announcement, the studio's upcoming release schedule is looking busier than ever. Alongside the already in-the-can Wildwood and the aforementioned Piranesi and Crumble, we've also still got neo-noir stop-motion The Night Gardener to look forward to as well as live-action hitman thriller Seventeen. As for when we can expect to see Spaihts' secretive sci-fi joint though, that remains, somewhat aptly, a mystery. But we'll bring you more just as soon as we get it — so long as we don't forget!