Oscar-winner Paul Haggis (Crash) has revealed to THR that he is set to write and direct an adaptation of Paolo Bacigalupi’s 2010 YA novel Ship Breaker.
“The books are set hundreds of years in the future, after civil wars, after the ice caps have retreated and the world is populated by people who know nothing of our times,” said Haggis. “I liked the idea that you could take that idea [of a post-apocalyptic world ignorant of the 21st century] and explore hopes and fears through that. Climate change is a concern of mine, and taking on a film that is not just a narrative about that is attractive.”
The synopsis for the Ship Breaker novel reads: “In America’s Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota – and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it’s worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life.
Ship Breaker will have a budget of around $100 million, and is intended as the first of three films produced by Philip Lee (The Revenant, Assassin’s Creed) under his new production company Far East.
