If you are trying to get an epic science fiction spec script any attention in this industry, mentioning Avatar as a point of comparison will definitely turn some heads after James Cameron’s recycled story and dazzling special effects became the highest grossing movie of all-time. Ironically, it’s Fox (via their Fox 2000 label) that’s the leading contender to pick up a project similar in scope and setting (at least somewhat) to Avatar. The project, titled Ion, comes from producers Ridley & Tony Scott and has Channing Tatum attached already as a man who travels to different Earths and dimensions in order to find his reincarnated lover.

Does anyone remember the trailer for The Fountain that kind of misled you on the story a bit? This is almost the kind of story that trailer seemed to be selling. Apparently Ion wasn’t good enough to gain attention when it was being shopped around last year, but after an expensive and high concept movie like Avatar exceeded expectations, the script has generated new buzz, especially after the Scott’s came in to further develop the script with Tatum (a rising star without a scrap of real talent in my opinion) attached. The script comes from newcomer Will Dunn, who hadn’t sold any scripts until Scott Free picked up Ion and worked on it with him.

This may seem like a risky move, but after a disappointing summer, Hollywood is already putting out a call for original content once again, so the spec script market should be in quite a frenzy (finally!). Personally I like the sound of the story, but I could do without Tatum in anything ever again. What do you think?

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