Production on 'The Zone' which was about to start next week has been canceled with the helmer's camp simply saying, 'This is not a project (Emmerich) is pursuing at this time.'
- November 10, 2010
AceShowbiz -
There won't be a movie made in the vein of "Cloverfield" from Roland Emmerich in foreseeable future. Not long after it was reported that the "2012 (2009)" helmer developed an alien invasion movie "The Zone" which would be presented in found footage, the project is shut down.
The Hollywood Reporter (THR) first breaks the news but there is no elaborate explanation regarding the cancellation. The director's camp simply releases a comment saying, "This is not a project (Emmerich) is pursuing at this time."
The sci-fi movie was said to be made with only $5 million budget, far below Emmerich's latest apocalyptic movie "2012" which cost an estimated $200 million. Additionally, production was well in to the rehearsal stage with shooting due to start next week.
THR then suggests two possible factors in the case. First, the found-footage trope is becoming overplayed, or "The Zone" would have been released scant weeks after another found-footage sci-fi movie, "Apollo 18", which is targeted for May 2011 release.
