Rupert Wyatt to Direct 10-Episode Sci-Fi Series ECHO CHAMBER
Rise of the Planet of the Apes director Rupert Wyatt is developing a 10-episode sci-fi series called Echo Chamber. The story follows a British soldier who goes undercover in the IRA, but a lot seems to have changed since the project was originally announced over three years ago.
Echo Chamber was originally based on the true story of a British soldier who infiltrates the Irish Republican Army for British intelligence. The soldier rises through the ranks of the IRA in the process, and things get incredibly dangerous. The series has evolved into a sci-fi series.
The project was originally set up at HBO as a miniseries that would be told in three 90-minute parts. It’s no longer at HBO, though, and now it will be told over the course of ten episodes.
In an interview with /Film, the director explains:
“Yeah, it was originally developed based on a true story, which HBO and I were going to do, but we’ve evolved it into more of a science fiction temper, so yeah.”
He goes a little bit more into detail on the sci-fi element of the story in a separate interview with Collider:
“It’s based on a true story of a British solider who goes undercover into the IRA, but we transferred it to a more science fiction context, so it follows the same trajectory of the character but it’s a different setting though.”
He also says that he will be directing all ten episodes, which seems like quite the undertaking and challenge for anyone. He also mentions that a place like Netflix would be a good home:
“I’m going to direct all 10 episodes. [...] I’m thrilled by the whole notion of making a long-form film and the idea is set into ten parts. It’s why Netflix might be a better place for it, because we’re mounting it as one huge film.”
If all goes as planned, Wyatt will go into production on the film next year or the year after. Sounds like it could be a great series to watch!