Damián Szifron, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind “Wild Tales,” will write the screenplay for the Mark Wahlberg movie “Six Billion Dollar Man,” which Peter Berg is set to direct for TWC-Dimension, it was announced Tuesday.
Szifron wrote and directed “Wild Tales,” which was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Academy Awards.
Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and Bob Weinstein will produce the movie, which is based on the classic TV series “The Six Million Dollar Man” and the novel “Cyborg” by Martin Caidin.
The story follows military officer Steve Austin, who becomes part of a top-secret government program after a horrific accident leaves him near death. With the help of cutting edge technology, Steve is brought back to life with extraordinary strengths, making him the world’s first truly bionic man.
“I couldn’t be more honored and grateful. Such a major challenge represents a great opportunity. The themes surrounding this beloved property allow for the creation of a memorable sci-fi actioner as well as a bold spy thriller. Expectations are high and I’ll do my best to deliver the strongest basis for an amazing cinematic experience,” said Szifron.
“When I met with Damián I was so happy to learn that growing up as a kid he was a fan of ‘The Six Million Dollar Man.’ He subsequently shared how he envisioned a modern retelling of the story with a new and unique vision. Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson and I couldn’t be more excited that he has come on board to write the script,” said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.
TWC-Dimension executives Matthew Signer and Keith Levine will oversee the project for the studio.
Szifron is represented by WME and attorney Carlos Goodman.