Shawn Levy to Produce Sci-Fi Tale Story of Your Life

FilmNation Entertainment, in partnership with Lava Bear Films, has announced plans to finance, produce and handle worldwide sales for the sci-fi thriller Story of Your Life, written by Eric Heisserer (The Thing, A Nightmare on Elm Street) and to be directed by prolific commercials director, Nic Mathieu.

Based on an award-winning short story by Ted Chiang, Story of Your Life is said to be a mind-bending science fiction thriller with a powerful, emotional twist. After aliens land around the globe, a linguist is recruited by the US government in a race to decipher their intentions on Earth.

The film will be produced by 21 Laps’ Shawn Levy and Dan Levine with FilmNations Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. Lava Bears David Linde, Tory Metzger, FilmNations Glen Basner and Eric Heisserer will executive produce. Story of Your Life was developed by 21 Laps Levy, Levine and Dan Cohen, along with Eric Heisserer.

The project is being fast-tracked with casting to commence immediately and a view to start lensing in 2013.

FilmNations Aaron Ryder commented, “When you look at Ted Chiang’s powerful source material, how deftly Eric and the team at 21 Laps handled the adaptation, and what Nic’s vision brings to the film, it’s no surprise that there’s been so much competitive interest. We’re looking forward to working with Shawn and Dan and couldn’t wish for better partners than Lava Bear”.

Lava Bears David Linde added, This is an incredibly dynamic and contemporary script. There is nothing else like it. We couldnt be more pleased to be working with such a wonderful creative team, as well as our friends at FilmNation.

21 Laps said, From the moment we first read Ted Chiang’s incredible short story to when we read Eric Heisserer’s powerful script and heard director Nic Mathieu’s vision for the movie, this has been a passion project of ours and we couldn’t be more excited to share the rest of this journey with FilmNation and Lava Bear.

The project was brought in to FilmNation by Patrick Chu. The deal was brokered on behalf of Lava Bear by David Boyle and on behalf of FilmNation by Alison Cohen. Eric Heisserer is repped by UTA. WME reps 21 Laps and Nic Mathieu.