Eli Roth is in talks to direct the giant shark movie “Meg” for Warner Bros., an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.
Warner Bros. executives smelled blood in the water when Sony’s shark movie “In the Deep” lost director Louis Leterrier, and moved quickly to resurrect “Meg,” which is a project that has been in development for more than a decade around Hollywood. At one point, noted film blogger Nick Nunziata was involved as a producer, though that incarnation of the project never quite came together.
Dean Georgaris adapted the novel by Steve Alten, which follows two men who team up to battle the Megaladon, a prehistoric shark that can grow up to 60 feet. Imagine the Godzilla of the ocean, if you will.
“Meg” will be produced by Belle Avery and Colin Wilson, while Gerald Molen and Randy Greenberg will serve as executive producers. Warner Bros. executives Andrew Fischel and Cate Adams will oversee the project for the studio.
Roth has Lionsgate’s Keanu Reeves thriller “Knock Knock” and the cannibal movie “The Green Inferno” opening later this year, and he’ll also host “Shark After Dark” next month during Discovery Channel’s popular “Shark Week.” He’s represented by WME and 3 Arts.
Variety broke the news.