Rogue Pictures, Universal's NYC-based genre unit, has teamed with L.A.-based Crystal Sky Pictures to produce DOOMSDAY, the next film from DOG SOLDIERS writer-director Neil Marshall, reports VARIETY. This is the first project greenlit from Rogues new president of production Andrew Rona. The film is a futuristic action thriller with political overtones, set in northern England and Scotland. Rogue will hold worldwide rights to the film, which they hope to get into production next spring in the U.K.
Crystal Sky, headed by chairman Steven Paul and president Benedict Carver, brought DOOMSDAY to Rogue and will serve as producer. It also has an option to finance 50% of the $15-20 million budget as an equity investment.
Rona said, "It's in the vein of MAD MAX, set in the near future, when the world has become a very intense place to live. A disaster threatens the future of mankind, and a team of people have to stop it."
Marshalls second film, THE DESCENT, about a group of women that run into a nasty creature while spelunking, will be released by Lions Gate in the U.S. in mid-2006.
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