Neil Marshall shifts gears to DRIVE at Universal with Hugh Jackman!

By Matt Holmes / June 25, 2011

Just over a week ago we told you that director Neil Marshall, whose latest film Doomsday is in the theatres right now and is being described as a cluttered fuckfest of insanity, was set to direct a Horror movie set in the Old Wild West. Now Variety have word of another deal the Newcastle born director has secured and for the first time it's a big studio project, setup at Universal! He is set to direct an adaptation of James Sallis novel Drive. Hugh Jackman will star as long as scheduling permits...

The script comes from Hossein Amini, the writer of The Four Feathers.

Set mostly in Arizona and L.A., the story is, according to Sallis, "...about a guy who does stunt driving for movies by day and drives for criminals at night. In classic noir fashion, he is double-crossed and, though before he has never participated in the violence ('I drive. That's all.'), he goes after the ones who doublecrossed and tried to kill him."

Marshall says the project appealed to him because of the three "amazing" car chases in the story and for his chance to direct a different kind of film noir concept. He hopes to begin filming in the summer. Ask me what my three favourite car movies are. I would give you... DuelTwo Lane BlacktopDeath Proof All assured directed movies. Can Marshall add a fourth to that list? The material sure sounds decent enough (I love serial killer car flicks!) let's hope he keeps Jackman on board.