Coming off the success of his directorial debutThe Cabin in the Woods, which he also co-wrote withJoss Whedon, filmmakerDrew Goddardlined up a couple of exciting and massive filmmaking opportunities that unfortunately fell through. First he signed on to create, direct, and serve as showrunner on Marvel’s first Netflix seriesDaredevil. But after penning the first two scripts and working to conceive the series, Goddard got an opportunity he couldn’t pass up: writing and directingaSinister Sixmovieas part of Sony’sSpider-Manuniverse. So he left his showrunner role onDaredevilto develop and writeSinister Six, but unfortunately afterThe Amazing Spider-Man 2’s release, Sony opted to scrap its interconnected universe plans and team up on a new reboot with Marvel Studios as a partner, effectively cancelling Goddard’sSinister Six.
It hasn’t beenallbad for Goddard—he was nominated for an Oscar for penning 2015’s blockbusterThe Martian, he still serves as an executive producer onDaredevil, and he helmed the pilot of one of this year’s best new showsThe Good Place—but it was a bummer to see his directorial projects fall apart. Luckily, Goddard is now lining up a new project to direct, and it’s a 100% original.
PerTHR, Goddard just sold a secretive spec script titledBad Times at the El Royaleto 20th Century Fox which he will produce and direct. Details are being kept firmly under wraps, but it’s described as a contained thriller with either sci-fi or horror elements—which doesn’t sound dissimilar fromCabin in the Woods.
Indeed, Goddard kept this thing so close to the vest that when he was shopping the script to studios, it was only sent to top studio execs and they had to read it on an iPad that they’d then have to hand back to a courier, bypassing the normal reading process.
This is great news, not only that Goddard is getting back behind the camera, but that it’s an original project. We recentlybroke the newsthat Goddard is also working on the script forDeadpool 2, so the guy is certainly in demand. ButCabin in the Woodsshowed a confidence of vision as a filmmaker, and I can’t wait to see what surprisesBad Times at the El Royalehas in store.
