Surprise! Despite saying he wouldn’t direct any more non-Avatar films, James Cameron has changed his mind, signing on to direct and produce The Informationist, an adaptation of the Taylor Stevens thriller.
Featuring a central female lead with “shades of Lisbeth Salander and Sherlock Holmes,” it seems that Cameron will once again bring a strong, independent female character to the screen. THR reports that Cameron has acquired the rights to the novel with intent to direct and produce the film through 20th Century Fox and his Lightstorm Entertainment banner.
The story centers on the action heroine “Vanessa ‘Michael’ Munroe, a woman born in central Africa who spent her teenaged years as a protégé of gunners and mercenaries. She reinvents herself as an information dealer for wealthy clients but when a billionaire hires her to find his daughter who went missing in Africa, Munroe finds herself back in the Dark Continent.”
A sequel to The Informationist, which hit bookshelves in March 2001, was released earlier this year. Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau expect are looking for a screenwriter currently, which is certainly a good sign as the films which Cameron only directs typically tend to be stronger films, although that would of course rely on a strong screenwriter joining the project.
“Taylor Stevens’ Vanessa Michael Munroe is an intriguing and compelling heroine with an agile mind and a thirst for adventure,” Cameron told THR. “Equally fascinating for me is her emotional life and her unexpected love story.”
Said Landau: “This was an opportunity to continue our relationship with Fox and Jim Gianopulos beyond the ‘Avatar’ films. We were drawn to this book because of the terrific, compelling narrative and the character, who typifies the strong female protagonists that have inhabited Jim’s work – in this case Vanessa Munroe is essentially a mix of Lisbeth Salander and Jason Bourne.”
It’s unclear where this film will fall in terms of the lengthy production schedule planned for the Avatar sequels, although we’ll be sure to follow this one closely!