What is going on in the world of David Twohy'

Hey there all you rascals, Harry here. As you read last week in the trades, David Twohy just signed onboard with Miramax to direct the Darren Aronofsky and Lucas Sussman scripted, PROTEUS. And that he has a 3 film write/direct deal there. Well, about a month ago I was checking up on a rumor about David Twohy possibly being involved with the alleged ALIEN VS PREDATOR project that 4Filmmakers.Com claimed was being produced by Cameron's LIGHTSTORM. Twohy's been busy with the international release of PITCH BLACK, and has only just now responded, but boy he gave us a doozy... I'll meet ya down at the bottom after the letter...

Hey, man.

Sorry for not replying sooner, but I was in Australia opening "Pitch Black" down there. Re "AVP," Fox did inquire about my availability awhile back, but since they didn't want to shop existing scripts around, it didn't come to much. (I understand they're cranking out a new script, or are about to.) Anyway, the timing looks off for my involvment with AVP, since I just signed with Miramax to write/direct three pix and possibly produce more.

First up will be "Proteus," original script by Darren Aronofsky and Lucas Sussman. I'm retooling that script now; expect to be shooting end of this year. Haunted house on a submarine -- which solves the basic problem of most haunted house moves: "Why don't you just fucking LEAVE?" Execution is fairly different from Darren's script, which veers off into monster-flick territory. And I've done that. New title forthcoming, too.

After that, I'll shoot a Harlan Ellison piece that he'll script for me. Classic science fiction, towering ideas, terrific jeopardy -- it's a fast ball right down the center of the plate. Can't name the title just yet, as we're just now in negotiations and the rights are complicated. But stand by. This one'll be a beaut.

David Twohy

Hey folks, Harry here. Maaaaan, Harlan Ellison science fiction, translated into a screenplay by Ellison. "Classic Science Fiction, Towering Ideas, Terrific Jeopardy" "Complicated Rights?" Oh man... I wonder what the heck this one is? For Science Fiction enthusiasts, this is good news. For anyone that has ever read Harlan Ellison's "I,ROBOT" screenplay, I'm sure you are quite aware that the man is quite able to translate science fiction into screenplay form. This could very well be one of those projects that makes you go.... "Ahhhh, now that's Science-Fiction!"

Now the horrible thing is, I have now opened up TALK BACK to the subject of Harlan Ellison, about whom we often find the most rabid angry back and forths you ever did read. I've been fortunate enough to have a couple of conversations with Harlan, and sat on one panel with him, Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen. Often times, Ellison is depicted as having messiah complexes, delusions of grandeur, etc. This was not the man upon this stage. Ellison stated for the world to hear, that his work would be forgotten over the passage of time, in stark contrast to Bradbury and Harryhausen. He then went through a list of science fiction authors that a great many people on this planet have no knowledge of whatsoever. Names like Theodore Sturgeon, Robert Silverberg and the great Gerald Kersh. Now hardcore science fiction fans, the ones that will dig through deteriorating pulps, flipping through Ace Doubles and so on.... They know these names, but Harlan felt his name will eventually be forgotten. This from an egomaniac? Hmmmm....