President Samuel L Jackson Will Hunt 'Big Game' For Rare Exports Director
When Jami Helander debuted his Christmas horror film Rare Exports stateside in December of 2010, it was the creative calling card of a new genre talent. Rare Exports was a wild yet warm-hearted throwback to the days of Amblin Studios, telling the story of a young boy and his reindeer herding family who take on the monstrous Santa Claus of Lapland folklore. That film, and the hilarious shorts that inspired it, have become a holiday staple in my house and Ive been anxiously awaiting whatever Helander tried next. Two years later, his next project is finally coming together and it sounds like a doozy.
Twitch reports that Helander has been gestating an idea in the aftermath of Rare Exports that he described as Home Alone meets Rambo, an enticing mash-up if there ever was one. With the funding now set for that picture, Helander is preparing to start production on it in September. The title? Big Game. The premise? A kid with a bow and arrow will team with the American president to fight off terrorists in the wilderness of Finland. Great, but it gets better. How, you say? Now imagine that the Commander-in-Chief is none other than Nick Fury himself. Thats right, Samuel L. Jackson is going to play the U.S. president across from a thirteen-year-old Finnish kid as they fight for their lives.
While Jackson is known for signing up for just about anything, this project certainly does sound special. The plot synopsis suggests that Big Game will continue that unique vision that Helander began in Rare Exports, with childlike optimism hurtling into darker worlds of adult danger. Consider this near the top of my must-see list in 2014.
Here are the full plot details:
Oskari, a 13-year-old boy, will pass his manhood test by spending the night in the vast local forest, armed with bow and arrow. That night, same place, US Air Force One is shot down over Finland by terrorists, and Oskari and the American president are left on their own, trying to escape from the radicals closing in on them.
What do you think? Does the idea of Helander and Jackson teaming up for something this cracked appeal to you?
For anyone whos not excited by the mention of Jami Helander or Rare Exports, check out the original short film below.