UPDATE: 20th Century has won bidding rights for Berger’s film. Insiders tells Deadline that the project had 11 studios chasing it with 20th Century landing a winning bid in the seven figure range.
EARLIER: Edward Berger has turned into one of the hottest directors in town. How did this happen? Now, everyone wants to work with him, and he’s taking advantage of it by working at a feverish pace these last few years.
Deadline is now reporting that Berger and Austin Butler are currently shopping around “The Barrier,” a hot time-travel package that’s expected to spur a bidding war in the coming days. Don’t be surprised if Netflix makes a big push in acquiring the project.
The film, based on a short story by MacMillan Hedges, is being described as a hybrid of “Interstellar” and “Top Gun.” Berger will direct from a script by Hedges, with Butler is set to star. This might very well be Berger’s next directorial effort.
The package hit the market Wednesday, as a big buzz title heading into Thanksgiving, with top executives around town asking to meet and hear the take.
After his Netflix WWI epic “All Quiet on the Western Front,” which won four Oscars, the German-born Berger has turned into one of the most sought-after directors in Hollywood. Who’d a thunk it. He also just released an acclaimed papal thriller, “Conclave,” that’s a cinch to earn him a best director nod at the Oscars, not to mention a slew of other nominations, including best picture and best actor.
It doesn’t end there either. Berger recently wrapped shooting “The Ballad of a Small Player,” a gambling drama starring Colin Farrell and Tilda Swinton, for Netflix — it’s expected to hit theaters next fall, right in the middle of awards season.
Berger is so hot right now that rumors have been swirling around about his potential involvement in directing the next James Bond, ‘Ocean’s 14,’ and ‘The Bourne Dilemma’ — he’s only confirmed his involvement in ‘Bourne’ and denied all reports pertaining to the other two.
Yes, Berger has all of a sudden become a hotshot director. Yet, before he broke out with “All Quiet on the Western Front,” he had directed 2014’s “Jack” and 2019’s underseen “All My Loving,” which THR described as having “as much teeth and personality as a gummy bear.” He also helmed a handful of barely reviewed German films, including the peculiarly titled 2001 dramedy “Female2 Seeks Happy End.”