Timur Bekmambetov to Direct ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER and Updates on his other Projects

It was announced earlier this year that Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) were attached to produce and develop Seth Grahame-Smith's novel Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. We weren't sure which of the two directors would end up taking on the project, if either of them were going to do it. In a interview with Empire Bekmambetov confirmed that he's attached to bring this awesome story to life on the big screen, and he hopes to start shooting it in America this winter!

That one I’m prepping to direct myself. It is not a comedy at all – it is a very entertaining, epic history lesson for millions and millions of teenagers. If you remember Nightwatch, it is maybe in the vein of that kind of movie.

We are keeping the traditional look of Lincoln – the big hat and the beard. He has to be historically correct, but with a few special weapons. There is only one book, but there will be many opportunities to develop and explore this world if we get to do sequels. I hope we will start this winter. We are shooting in America.

I'm seriously excited to see this novel being made into a movie, there's no doubt in my mind that it's going to be a hell of a lot of fun! I also love the possibility of seeing sequels! Bekmambetov is a incredibly fun director and I'm sure he's going to do some great things with this movie.

He also goes on to discuss several other projects he is involved with and where they currently stand.

Wanted 2. 

We are discussing Wanted 2 every month. We are working on it now, but I think it will be after Lincoln because James (McAvoy) is working on the X-Men: First Class… It’s why I decided to develop Lincoln without a studio, to keep control. It’s a big movie but independent too.

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

Yes, it is happening. We are in development with a writer and Ridley Scott’s people. It’s early in development. I would like to direct myself – it’s a great tale that I love from my childhood. It will be a modernised version of the famous book.

Moby Dick.

I’ve developed the whole world, but we’re still working on the script. To fight a supernatural creature, you need people with supernatural abilities. It’s the same story but with a different take, much more mystical. The whalers are not ordinary people, and yes, the whale will be done digitally.

Red Asphalt.

I am working on that with Lionsgate. It’s a movie about drunk driving… in 3D! 3D is the only way to recreate what you feel when you drink and drive.

It’s my original idea – I wrote the treatment. Everyone drinks and drives once, and I want to make a horror movie about it. It’s one big car chase. People will feel what it’s like when you’re drunk and driving, and it’s really scary. The world is not exactly the same."

The Knights Templar.

That is a project I am developing with Universal. I wrote the treatment but it’s not something I am doing in the near future. It’s a great story, but… It’s why I’m producing, because there are too many stories. I have to give them to other people sometimes.

Twilight Watch*.

I hope it happens. It’s like first love – we created this world and now I’m watching the Twilight movies, I feel like we missed something by not doing Twilight Watch. Because there are a lot of ideas in those films that we were going to use. But we didn’t finish the story. It would be good to get around to it one day. 

The Last Witchhunter.

I am not working on that one. It was in discussion but is not happening now.

Black Lightning.

We are talking with Universal about producing an English-language remake, but I am not directing it.

So there ya have it! A complete update on the films director Timur Bekmambetov has been attached to. I definitely excited most for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

What are your thoughts on Bekmambetov taking on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter?