The Father of Evolution Charles Darwin may be coming to the magic kingdom. Earlier today, Deadline broke the news that Disney has just acquired an in development script about the famed naturalist and geologist from screenwriter Stephen Gaghan. Gaghan, who won an Academy Award for his work on the film 'Traffic', is attached to direct the movie which was described by the report as an 'adventure film.'
This isn't the first attempt at translating Darwin's life and legacy to the big screen. In 2009, a British produced Darwin biopic called 'Creation' starring Paul Bettany graced theatres. The film was based on a biography written by Darwin's great grandson and focused on the struggles Darwin faced while writing his magnum opus "On the Origin of The Species". The film struggled critically and commercially. It currently holds a 46% rating on review site Rotten Tomatoes and grossed under half a million dollars worldwide during its run in cinemas.
Disney is hoping Gaghan's take on the man will be more successful. The deadline article mentions the British scientist's adventurous five year excursion where many of his key findings would be discovered:
"Darwin had a bit of that Indiana Jones-like swashbuckling spirit in him, and in his formative years he took a daring five-year voyage in 1831 on the ship HMS Beagle, to chart the coastline of South America. He made many discoveries along the way which harnessed the later theories that would make him one of the most influential figures in human history."
The film will be a radical departure for Gaghan. Aside from the aforementioned 'Traffic', his other best known credits include the geopolitical ensemble drama 'Syriana' which he wrote and directed and war film 'Rules of Engagement'.
