McG can put his life jacket and swim gear back on the shelf — the "Terminator Salvation" director won't embark upon his planned sea voyage anytime soon, as "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" has been docked indefinitely.
Variety reports that the latest film version of the classic Jules Verne novel is currently on hold, with director McG no longer attached. The production was set to begin this February and was considered "on a fast track under the Dick Cook regime," but the departure of the former Disney chief may have derailed the film's priority status.
That's not to say that Disney doesn't have plans for "20,000 Leagues" — Variety notes that the film is still a priority for new Disney chief Rich Ross — but McG will not be at the picture's helm.
Even though the film was targeting a February production start, the chances of "20,000 Leagues" actually meeting that mark were already pretty slim. No casting was in place, according to Variety, despite rumored names such as Will Smith for the role of Captain Nemo.
As for where McG goes from here, the answer isn't fully clear. The filmmaker is currently collaborating on a new NBC comedy series with Larry Charles of "Borat" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" fame.
He's also still attached to a fifth "Terminator" outing, though movement on the film has stalled due to the franchise's role in an impending bidding war — not to mention the fact that many fans weren't satisfied by "Terminator Salvation," which could eventually lead to McG's departure from the series altogether.
Disney's upcoming plans are less murky. According to Variety, the company's "next big water-based shoot" will be the fourth "Pirates of the Caribbean," which filmmaker Rob Marshall is in talks to direct.
How do you feel about "20,000 Leagues" getting benched? Let us know in the comments section or on Twitter!
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