Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov is eying a remake of the Russian-language Chernaya Molniya (Black Lightning) for Universal, says Variety. The original garnered big attention when it was released last December, grossing a total of $20 million. Chris Weitz (New Moon) would co-produce. Bekmambetov, who is in the Kazakh capital where he launched the first
Astana Action Film Festival, said there are plans for a Russian-Chinese
sequel to the film. He described it as a Slavic Transformers meets Batman, about a car-mad student who supertunes an old Soviet sedan
and runs up against the criminal underground. He is in talks with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon producer Bill Kong for the sequel.
To say that Bekmambetov is keeping busy is bit of an understatement. In addition to the potential sequel to the original Lightning, he also will be producing Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, based on Seth-Grahame-Smith’s novel, with Tim Burton and his Wanted producer, Jim Lemley; as well as directing Wanted 2. He’s also directing the comedy Vikrutasi (Tricksters) with Milla Jovovich and has the alien invasion thriller, The Darkest Hour gearing up.
Check out the batshit trailer for Chernaya Molniya: