Steven Spielberg Rides The WAR HORSE

Back in December, DreamWorks Studios bought the film rights to WAR HORSE based on the 1982 novel by Michael Morpurgo, that tells the tale of a boy and a horse, who are separated, but whose fates continue to be intertwined over the course of World War I. Today Variety reported the directing job goes to legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg…

After not being able to get OLDBOY remake and HARVEY remake off the ground, this will be Spielberg’s next project, the one he’s already wrapped was TINTIN which opens next year’s December.
Spielberg has dealt with WWII a number of times, having directed Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, produced Band Of Brothers and The Pacific… let’s just forget 1941 ever happened, shall we,…but this project will take him to the great war before.
Billy Elliot scribe Lee Hall was hired by the studio to write the adaptation. The Indiana Jones team Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall will produce along with Revel Guest. The release date has been set for August 20th, 2011.

Here’s the official synopsis of the book…
“In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey’s courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer’s son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again?”