The last four years of development history for the story of Methuselah have finally come to pass with director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy now leading the charge this time.
The trades have maintained the project, which once saw Tom Cruise starring, has Michael B. Jordan on deck for the title role instead. As of Friday with the duo behind the highly-acclaimed Slumdog Millionaire officially on board, Jordan’s attachment hasn’t changed.
What has changed, however, is the vision; A March 2019 Deadline piece described Methuselah as a story that told of “a man who has managed to survive for hundreds of years, without showing the physical signs of age. In that time, he has accumulated vast intellectual knowledge, from multiple languages to the sciences, as well as survival skills.”
With Boyle now on board however, a new touch is in the works according to Variety‘s Justin Kroll who says “the creative team is taking a new approach with the plot”. The article notes the Jordan’s addition further embolden’s Warner Bros.’s investment following the actor’s immense successes with Creed and Creed 2.
Jordan will also produce under his Outlier Society banner with production head Alana Mayo. Boyle is also producing next to David Heyman and Jeffrey Clifford of Heyday, with Beaufoy rewriting Tony Gilroy’s latest draft.