Hollywood ready to take on 9/11

Oliver Stone and Paul Greengrass both set to direct films based on 9/11

Aug 19 2005

Hollywood's apparent self-imposed embargo on cinematic dramatisation of the events of 9/11 appears to be over with two major studios green-lighting projects and a third not far off.

'JFK' director Oliver Stone has already announced his intentions to begin production in October on a film about two New York Port Authority workers trapped under the rubble of the World Trade Centre.

The as-yet untitled project, which is being made under the Paramount Studios banner, is expected to star Nicholas Cage and Michael Pena as the last two people rescued from Ground Zero.

Now Universal Studios has taken up the mantle, commissioning Brit Paul Greengrass to direct a film about the United Airlines flight that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.

'Flight 93', as it has been tentatively titled, will cover in real time the heroics of the passengers who overcame the terrorists.

Greengrass, whose most recent work includes 'Bloody Sunday' and 'The Bourne Supremacy', plans to shoot the film with an ensemble cast using hand-held cameras.

A third film is also waiting in the wind after Columbia Pictures optioned the rights to the book '102 Minutes', written by two New York Times journalists.

With the fifth anniversary due next year it seems possible the studios would like to have their films form some part of the commemorations.