I’ve been parsing the news of Ed Zwick’s latest film project, In the Heart of the Sea, and I just don’t see a lot of room for him to include an oppressed minority who must be saved by white people. I’m sure it’ll come to me, though.
In the Heart of the Sea is based on the true story that inspired Moby Dick: the Essex, a Nantucket whaling ship, was stalked and sunk by a sperm whale. The crew was lost at sea for 90 days thousands of miles from home; only eight made it back alive (spoiler!). So it’s The Perfect Storm (with a happier ending) meets Moby Dick. The Perfect Dick!
Zwick is writing the script – based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s National Book Award winning non fiction book – with Marshall Herskovitz, looking to start shooting this year with a release from Fox (meaning it’s going to be a shitty movie… in case the talent behind the camera didn’t already tell you that). I’m looking forward to following this production, as all water-based movies go terribly, terribly awry at one point or another. It’s a Hollywood rule.