The zombies of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies have struck again, devouring their former director Mike White (Year of the Dog), according to Deadline. White joins David O. Russell (The Fighter, I Heart Huckabees) as a director who has departed the film based on Seth Grahame-Smith’s book of the same name, where flesh eating creatures are thrown into Jane Austin’s literary classic (with an ass-kicking heroine to boot).
White’s exit is supposedly due to a prior commitment he had worked out with HBO for an undisclosed project, whose schedules could not come together. Says White: “"I loved the project and looked forward to working with Lionsgate. Unfortunately, the timing could not be worked out. I wish them the best with the movie." The project is one of the biggest films in development at Lionsgate, with a script that has all of Hollywood talking and various filmmakers and actors lined up to take part.
White’s exit gives way to the lingering question of who will come to replace him. Several directors have made it known they wanted to be involved prior to White getting the gig, notably Jonathan Demme (Rachel Getting Maried, Silence of the Lambs), Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In), David Slade (30 Days of Night, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) and Mike Newell (Prince of Persia, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). As Lionsgate wants to strike while the iron is hot on the project, look to see a new director take White’s spot soon so some casting can (finally) get under way.
