Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.

Vincenzo Natali is a really promising filmmaker who has yet to make his classic. I think he’s got a good eye, I like his sensibilities, and I think he’s made some entertaining film so far. But he hasn’t really hit that home run that launches him into the pantheon of working genre filmmakers.

But it’s about time someone did this sort of story and got it right, and I think this sounds like it could be awesome if done correctly. Consider my fingers crossed as you read this, sent to me by “Dr. Moreau”:

Copperheart Entertainment and Gaumont have begun casting on Vincenzo Natali’s (‘Paris, Je T’aime’, ‘Cube’) dark vision of the world of genetic engineering in which two young scientists become superstars by splicing different animal DNA to create fantastical new creatures. Ignoring legal and ethical boundaries, the scientists, who are romantically involved, introduce human DNA into their experiment and risk the dawn of a terrifying new era.

The film is being produced by Steven Hoban of Copperheart Entertainment and Executive Produced by Franck Chorot of Gaumont. Guillermo del Toro, Don Murphy and Susan Montford’s Angry Bulls shingle is also Executive Producing. Screenplay was written by Natali, Antoinette Terry Bryant and Doug Taylor. John Papsidera, c.s.a. is casting the film. Natali and del Toro are represented by Endeavor and Hoban is represented by CAA.

Del Toro said, “Vincenzo is taking ‘Splice’ to really edgy places. The moment I cringed while reading the script I knew I wanted to help him realize his vision. He understands that true horror needs to be morally dangerous.”

Shooting will begin in Toronto this summer and the groundbreaking special effects necessary to bring the film’s realistic hybrid creatures to life will be done in Paris, Toronto and Berkeley, California.

“If Mary Shelley had been born 200 years later she wouldn’t have written Frankenstein, she would have written ‘Splice’”, commented Hoban.
Chorot said, “Movies are made of emotions. Some make you laugh. Some make you cry. Some scare you to death. ‘Splice’ does it all! Gaumont is thrilled to be working with this group of extraordinary filmmakers.”