Fede Alvarez Working With Doug Liman on ‘Chaos Walking’ Reshoots (Exclusive)

Fede Alvarez, the filmmaker behind thrillers Don’t Breathe and The Girl in the Spider’s Web, is working on the reshoots of Chaos Walking, Lionsgate’s high-profile sci-fi movie starring Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley.

Doug Liman, the original director, remains on board and is directing the new shoot, described as “additional photography” and currently underway in Atlanta. Lionsgate is spending upwards of $15 million on this new round of shooting, according to sources, which is lasting around three weeks. 

The Hollywood Reporter wrote in April 2018 about Lionsgate’s decision to undertake the reshoots for its adaptation of the Patrick Ness YA novel set in a future society where women have been killed by a virus. The movie is seen as a big bet for the studio, which has been trying to recapture the hold it had on YA audiences when it was releasing such fare as Twilight and The Hunger Games movies.

However, when the cuts were assembled, Chaos was found lacking. Those who know Liman were not surprised. Sources say the filmmaker is known for “finding” his movies during the postproduction and reshoot process, pointing to Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Edge of Tomorrow as challenging productions that went on to become hits.

Lionsgate’s Joe Drake is well-acquainted with Alvarez’s oeuvre, having worked with the Uruguay-born filmmaker on the surprise hit Don’t Breathe as well as a remake of the horror movie Evil Dead. Alvarez also happened to be a fan of Liman’s work so was keen to get on board when Liman asked for his assistance.

Alvarez read the new pages written for the additional shooting and gave Liman extensive notes. The two also plotted new material together. Sources say Alvarez is on set acting as a “consultant,” someone who is able to bring his abilities as a writer, director and producer into focus.

Bringing in filmmakers as consultants on reshoots seems to be an increasingly regular occurrence as studios rely on massive, expensive tentpoles to generate worldwide box office success. Two weeks ago, THR reported that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles director Jonathan Liebesman was consulting on reshoots for Universal’s The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle.

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'Chaos Walking': Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley Sci-Fi Movie to Get Major Reshoots (Exclusive)