Amiel opens 'Annie's Box'

Jon Amiel is to direct a Charles Darwin biopic based on the book 'Annie's Box'.

Feb 28 2007

'Sommersby' director Jon Amiel has announced plans to helm a film about the life and times of legendary naturalist Charles Darwin.

Based on Randal Keynes' 2001 book 'Annie's Box', the pic will revolve around Darwin's relationship with his eldest daughter Annie, and the effect that her early death had on his career and work on 'The Origin of Species'.

Speaking of the project, producer Jeremy Thomas told Screen Daily 'It's a very interesting story to look at today because of all the current debates on Creationism. There was uproar in the 19th century and the debate's still raging today.'

'Happy Feet' writer John Collee is currently working on the script, with production set to kick off near Darwin's family home in Kent for a 2009 release, the bicentennial year of his birth.

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