The Endurance Movie
Wolfgang Peterson
News - Updated December 15, 2002
An article from Sep 9, 2001
says he is still trying. -
Shackleton: Voyage to the ends of the earth
But 2 months later It looks like Wolfgang's version of the film may be dead
according to the following article:
Writer-director Charles Sturridge talks about his new production. Feb 15
2001
The information below is several years old.
This from Entertainment Weekly:
ENDURANCE
TEST
Wolfgang Peterson is obviously inspired by guys
with the guts to stick it out. The "Perfect Storm" director has spent several
years developing "Endurance", about explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who led a
group of adventurers to safety after a trip to Antarctica went awry in 1914.
Originally penned by Ron Bass---"I haven't worked on it in 100 years," he
says---the script has since fallen to at least five other writers, including Dan
Gilroy ("Outbreak") and Jeff Maguire ("In the Line of Fire"), but has yet to
pass muster. Nevertheless, Peterson thinks he's found his hero: "Mel Gibson is
very interested. We've had a couple of conversations about it." Gibson confirms
this, saying "It's a good story." But he may have to express a little more
enthusiasm, thanks to the newest manly man in town. "Mel would be great," says
Peterson, "but now there's also Russell Crowe."
Wolfgang Peterson may be directing the movie Endurance which as you might have guessed is all about Shackleton's boat journey. I'm absolutely ecstatic about this for 3 reasons. First, Wolfgang Peterson directed "Das Boot" which is already one of my favorite movies, and I think he will do an awesome job on it. Second, since this is one of the greatest stories of all time, it deserves to be shown to the world. Third, great interest will then be given to Shackleton and his adventures.
A visitor to this site recently told me that Mel Gibson may be playing Shackleton in the upcoming movie. I cannot confirm this, but I did find this article which mentioned that he was offered the part but turned it down because he didn't like the script. I've heard that the script was rewritten, so perhaps he changed his mind. This is pure speculation however.
The screen writers of the movie "Endurance" contacted me and told me that Tri-Star/ Sony just bought the rights to the screen play from them in September of 1998. They say that have signed on as film consultants, and that rumors have it that production may begin this early winter in Northern Canada. They also said that it is not uncommon for a film to hush hush before everyone is on base. Hopefully we will here more from them soon.
