I am – Hercules!!


The Thursday-morning edition of Variety confirms Bloody Disgusting's Jan. 15 report that Matthijs Van Heijningen, director of commercials for Toyota, Pepsi, Heineken, Bud Light and Visa, will now direct Ronald D. Moore’s screenplay for a new Universal prequel to “The Thing.”

According to BD, Van Heijningen is rumored to be pushing for the new film's main character to be R.J. Macready's brother.

Van Heijningen remains attached to the Vegas zombie thriller “Army of he Dead.”

Moore served as showrunner on “Carnivale” and “Battlestar Galactica,” and co-wrote “Star Trek: First Contact” and the series finale of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” I can’t help but be exciting by anything Moore’s involved in. Plus I love both versions of "The Thing" so much I kinda don't care all that much who directs.

As with Howard Hawks' 1951 "The Thing From Another World" and John Carpenter's 1982 "The Thing," the prequel will be based on the John W. Campbell Jr. short story "Who Goes There?"

Some samples of Van Heijningen's work:

Read all of Vareity’s story on the matter here.