Dambusters (2008 film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section contains information about one or more scheduled or expected films. The content may change as the film's release approaches and more information becomes available.

Dambusters
Directed by	Christian Rivers
Produced by	Peter Jackson David Frost Ken Kamins
Written by	Stephen Fry
Distributed by	Universal Pictures, StudioCanal
Language	English
Budget	$50,000,000 (projected)
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

Dambusters is a war film to be produced by Peter Jackson and directed by first-time director Christian Rivers. It is a remake of the 1954 film The Dam Busters, telling the story of No. 617 Squadron RAF and the Operation Chastise attack on German dams on May 17, 1943 in World War II using bouncing bombs. It will be distributed by Universal Pictures and StudioCanal.^[1]

Much of the film will be shot in Wellington, New Zealand, with some filming in the United Kingdom also likely. Ten full-size models of the Avro Lancaster aircraft will be built by Weta Workshop.

Jackson has said in the mid-1990s he became interested in remaking the 1954 film, but found that the rights had been bought by Mel Gibson. In 2004, Jackson was contacted by his agent, who said Gibson had dropped the rights.

An issue that appeared soon after the film was announced was the naming of Wing Commander Guy Gibson's dog, Nigger. In the United States release of the 1954 film, the dog's name was redubbed as Trigger. Jackson has said no decision has been made on the dog's name, but is in a "no-win, damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don't scenario", as changing the name could be seen as political correctness, while not changing the name could inadvertently offend people.^[2]

Stephen Fry is writing the script of the film.^[3]