So, Ahmet Zappa (son of Frank) had an idea for a steampunk look at adult versions of Oliver Twist and his swindler pal, The Artful Dodger, which Cole Haddon (TV’s DRACULA) then spun into a draft. Then, THE FULL MONTY/SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE writer Simon Beaufoy took a crack at it, but all three writers have had their work revised in a page-one rewrite by someone mostly known for directing his own projects: Edgar Wright.
According to Film Divider, Wright has already turned in his draft, which is said to be a complete revision, and is not expected to direct the film because of his work on BABY DRIVER. This won’t be his first scriptwork on a project he didn’t direct, but on ANT-MAN and THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN, he worked alongside Joe Cornish, who didn’t lend a hand this time around.
The premise for the film, titled DODGE & TWIST, has The Artful Dodger, now a grown-up and practiced thief, attempting to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. This pits him right up against his old comrade, Oliver Twist, now on the other side of the law as a British constable. Expect some fanciful steampunky contraptions and some outlandish action set-pieces.
Cornish or no, director’s seat or no, Wright’s involvement with this project (matched with that intriguing logline) immediately bumps up the interest level in this film. If he properly matched the steampunk sensibilities with the audience’s familiarity with these characters and their mutual history, this could prove to be irresistible in a way that ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER and (to a lesser extent) the SHERLOCK HOLMES movies didn’t quite achieve.
Now, given that both Wright and Guy Ritchie are busy with other things, let’s see who they get to direct this thing…
