Since J.J. Abrams doesn’t have to direct more Star Wars movies after The Force Awakens, he will have plenty of time to work on other projects. One of those includes secret science fiction movie for Sony.
The film will be the first feature from Chris Alender, who created the short Eye of the Storm. While the plot is unknown, Deadline, which first reported on the deal, notes that it will definitely involve aliens. It is expected to be similar to Cloverfield and will have a small budget.
Abrams’ Bad Robot initially worked on it under Paramount, where the studio is based. However, Paramount didn’t look interested, so he talked Paramount into letting him take it to other studios. Alender and Abrams then put together a sizzle reel, which helped start a bidding war.
Eventually, Sony production president Michael De Luca acquired it. Lionsgate was also reportedly interested.
TheWrap notes that the latest draft was written by Justin Doble.
In addition to directing Eye of the Storm, Alender runs his own company, Soapbox Films, which makes shorts for products and other businesses.
As for Abrams, he’s still finishing work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opens in December 2015.
image courtesy of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com