by Pamela McClintock 2/4/2015 10:30am PST
Star Wars actor Hayden Christensen has set his sights on Untot, a period action-horror film set during World War II.
Kris Renkewitz, a director and producer in the video game and comic book space, is directing the project for producer Greg O’Connor of Solaris Entertainment (Warrior), and is set to begin shooting in New York in March from his original script. Tannaz Anisi’s 13 Films is introducing Untot to foreign buyers this week at Berlin’s European Film Market.
Untot — which means “undead” in German — revolves around an elite military unit commanded by Lt. Fredrick Hank (Christensen). Set in December 1944, the unit is dropped behind enemy lines in the mountains of Poland in order to destroy a secret Nazi weapons facility. But when they encounter something they’ve never been trained for, they must face their greatest fears.
“Kris has already proven himself as a master visual artist with his successful career as a video game director. I’m thrilled to support his first foray into the medium of cinema with Untot. He has written a haunting, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed script filled with supernatural elements and I can’t wait to see his creative vision realized on screen,” said O’Connor, who holds U.S. rights.
Renkewitz’s credits include working on the popular Marvel Comics’ The West Coast Avengers, Iron Man/War Machine and Daredevil, as well as for DC Comics’ The Flash, The Justice League and Superboy. His video game directing credits include Tomb Raider, Ghostbusters and 007: Tomorrow Never Dies.
He owns and operates an animation and VFX production studio, Renketwitz Studios, whose past projects include Halo, League of Legends, Prince of Persia, Mad Max and Resident Evil.
“Renkewitz is a director to watch who has written a unique, high-concept horror film,” Anisi said. “And with Hayden Christensen attached as the lead, this will surely be a big draw for buyers at Berlin.”
Christensen, who is next in theaters in American Heist, played Anakin Skywalker in George Lucas’s prequel Star Wars trilogy. Heist, co-starring Adrien Brody, premiered at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival and will be released later this year by Saban Films. He’s currently filming 90 Minutes in Heaven opposite Kate Bosworth.
The actor is represented by Paradigm and Luber Rocklin Entertainment.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/berlin-hayden-christensen-sets-sights-770095