No release date has been set yet for sci-fi thriller Extinction, though the filmmakers are currently eyeing an April 2017 start for shooting.

After bringing Michael Pena onboard in the starring role at the beginning of the month, a few new pieces have fallen into place for the upcoming sci-fi thriller Extinction. First up, Universal Pictures has just acquired the distribution rights for the movie. And second, and more importantly, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie is now scoping out the coming April as a potential start date for shooting.

If the shoot date holds, this means we might get to see Extinction as early as spring/summer next year, depending on how intensive the post is. Also, additional plot details and casting should be coming along soon.

UPDATE 2-1-17: Michael Pena’s Set to Kick Alien Booty in Sci-Fi Thriller Extinction

Well, I guess James McAvoy has passed on the upcoming sci-fi thriller Extinction. According to Deadline, Michael Pena (the perfect comic foil to Paul Rudd in Ant-Man) has signed on to star in the lead role. There are no other details yet on a potential start date for production or release date. But, given that they’ve finally signed a lead, they’re currently shopping the international rights, and it’s co-written by Eric Heisserer, who just landed an Academy Award nomination for his writing on Arrival, I’m guessing this project’s going to be moving ahead sooner rather than later.

Original Post 10-19-16: Upcoming Sci-Fi Thriller Extinction Has Found a Director

Early last month, it was revealed that James McAvoy was be courted for the lead in sci-fi thriller Extinction. And though his involvement still hasn’t been locked in, Extinction did just find its director. According to Deadline, Ben Young, whose recent kidnap movie Hounds of Love drew strong notice at the recent Venice Film Festival, will be helming the movie.

So, What’s Sci-Fi Thriller Extinction About Anyway?

So, there aren’t a lot of details on the plot so far, but here’s what we do know. Extinction follows a father and chief mechanic at a factory who is haunted by nightmares in which his wife is assaulted. However, he becomes a hero when Earth is invaded by an army bent on doom and destruction, though he comes to the realization that the invading forces might not be what he expected.

Which, OK, I’m intrigued. Not a lot to go on, but when combined with McAvoy, you’ve got the makings of something interesting.

Who Else Is Part of the Extinction Creative Team?

David Hoberman (Warm Bodies, Surrogates) and Todd Lieberman (Insurgent, Allegiant) are producing the movie, and the latest draft of the script is from Eric Heisserer (The Thing [2011], Arrival). In addition, writers Brad Caleb Kane (Fringe) and Spenser Cohen (Moonfall) worked on earlier drafts.

It looks like 2017 will be the year time travel makes a comeback. I mentioned the recent popularity of the time travel genre in books, but it appears to be bleeding into movies and television as well.

This is the first of a series of 5 articles letting you know what cool sci-fi stuff is coming out in the next year, so check out the biggest, baddest, most awesome sci-fi films you can expect next year!

[Click here to read more…]

Anything Else?

Sadly, no. No release date or possible shooting date for sci-fi thriller Extinction and no other casting details besides McAvoy. Still, this is the third interesting non-superhero, non-sequel sci-fi project that’s been announced in the last 24 hours (the others being Sovereign, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the lead and Marc Munden directing, and Starfall, with Joe Johnston at the helm.) And that, paired with all the movies that are coming out next year makes me pretty hopeful it’s going to be a great year for science fiction movies.

Featured Image: courtesy of Uncanny Knack