As reported by Deadline, Stanley Kubrick’s written script for The Downslope will now be made into a film series by World War Z and Finding Neverland director Marc Forster, who will serve as producer for all three films and director for the first. Kubrick wrote the script in 1956 after his film Fear and Desire hit theaters, and before he started working on Paths of Glory. The film is said to be “a sweeping, historical action-drama,” according to Deadline, and will revolve around the Civil War. The first film of the trilogy will be based on Kubrick’s script and concept, and the subsequent films will expand on his original ideas and focus on the after-effects of the Civil War.
Kubrick’s death in 1999 has obviously not stopped his ideas from reaching the big screen, as seen with Spielberg’s film A.I. Artificial Intelligence in 2001. That film was brought about by Kubrick’s original vision and with Kubrick’s complete permission. While this new film series doesn’t have the explicit permission of Kubrick himself, Kubrick’s family is fully behind The Downslope being made. Kubrick put a substantial amount of work into the script and into his shooting plan for the film, so to see this work finally being made will surely give Kubrick fans a reason to rejoice.
The Oscar-nominated director has been noted as one of the most influential filmmakers in history, with 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, and The Shining being some of his seminal films. Marc Forster will have a heavy task ahead of him, but he will be receiving the help of producers Lauren Selig (Lone Survivor), Reneé Wolfe (All I See Is You), and Barry Levine (Oblivion, Hercules).