Peter Jackson‘s next movie, the young-adult adaptation “Mortal Engines,” will land in theaters on December 14, 2018, Universal announced on Thursday.
Jackson and longtime collaborator Fran Walsh are following their award-winning “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies by producing and co-scripting another big-screen take on a fantastical book series, this one based on Philip Reeve’s award-winning “Mortal Engines.”
The story, set in a future Earth where cities roam the globe on giant wheels and battle each other for ever-diminishing natural resources, follows two unlikely heroes who come together and change the course of the future.
Oscar-winning visual-effects artist Christian Rivers (“King Kong”) is directing the movie from a screenplay by Jackson, Walsh and Philippa Boyens (who will also co-produce). The three had previously collaborated on “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movies.
Zane Weiner (“The Hobbit” series), Amanda Walker (“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”) and Deborah Forte (“Goosebumps”) also produce, while Ken Kamins (“The Hobbit” series) executive produces.
Universal will distribute the film worldwide.