Sam Mendes has decided on his first big screen project since pulling double duty in the James Bond 007 franchise with Skyfall and Spectre, and that new film is bringing him back into collaboration with Steven Spielberg. Indeed, one filmmaking auteur got his start (in movies, anyway) with another, as Spielberg’s DreamWorks Pictures produced Mendes’ American Beauty in 1999, and now Spielberg’s Amblin will produce Mendes’ next movie 1917, a new drama set during World War I.
The news of the project was announced via Deadline, which revealed that Mendes is not only directing the film but also co-writing it. This is notable as Mendes has no other screenwriting credits before now, yet 1917 sees him teaming up with Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Meanwhile Wilson-Cairns recently wrote the screenplay for The Voyeur’s Motel, another film Mendes has in development and is currently pegged to direct, in addition to working on Penny Dreadful, the Gothic horror series created by John Logan and executive produced by Mendes.
Details are sparse on what the actual film will be about, however 1917 was one of the bloodiest years of the First World War, with the battles of Arras and the second battle of Aisne, among other horrific events. There is plenty to work on, as Spielberg is also aware of having directed his own WWI drama in War Horse (2011).
Spielberg and Mendes first collaborated on American Beauty, and Spielberg later produced Mendes’ Tom Hanks-starring gangster film Road To Perdition. With 1917, Spielberg’s Amblin is producing the film alongside Spielberg and Amblin’s now frequent distribution partner Universal Pictures. Mendes is also producing at his production company Neal Street Productions, along with Pippa Harris.
“I couldn’t be happier to be back working with Amblin and Steven Spielberg again, alongside Donna Langley and all at Universal,” Mendes said in a statement to Deadline. “I’ve been working on this script for over a year, so it’s very exciting to start making the movie itself a reality.”
The movie is scheduled to begin production next April and is aiming for a December 2019 release date.