Coming off the critical and commercial success ofThe Martian,Ridley Scottis keeping himself busy with an ever-growing slate of films. The latest to join the pile is yet another historical passion project for the director, a film based on the Battle of Britain; the air campaign waged in the skies over the United Kingdom that was a definitive turning point in World War II.
The project is in very early stages, so there is no script yet, but up-and-coming writerMatthew Ortonhas been recruited to pen the screenplay. Orton also recently wrote the WWII dramaOperation Finale(previously known asEichmann), which is set to starOscar Issac.Matt Charman, who wroteSteven Spielberg’s Cold War espionage dramaBridge of Spies, will executive produce.
Deadline broke the news of the project, noting that while Fox bought the pitch last year, it’s early days yet. However, it’s a passion project for the filmmaker who has been eager to make a film about “Britain’s finest hour” for some time.
That said, the film will have some competition for Scott’s attention. HisPrometheusfollow-up Alien: Covenant lands in theaters this summer, and it’s the kind of major studio release that demands a hell of a press tour. After that, Scott is gearing up to direct Sony’sAll the Money in the World, theDavid Scarpa-scriptedGetty kidnapping drama, for which Scott is eyeing a lead inNatalie Portman. He’s also lined upThe Cartelat Fox, an adaption ofDon Winslow’s bestselling crime drama, which is often calledThe Godfatherof drug war stories. Last year, there were also reports that he wouldreteam with hisThe MartianscribeDrew Goddardfor an adaptation of theS. Craig ZahlernovelWraiths of the Broken Land, which would be the first Western of his career. Finally, Scott’s also got anotherthreeAlienfilms planned at Fox afterCovenant, and he’s already gotthe first one writtenand ready to go. Round and round he goes, where Ridley Scott stops, nobody knows.
