Today's new release World War Z (read our review) uses the classic zombies as metaphor tactic, but in a more conventional way than the upcoming Maggie. The latter travels a less orthodox path by using zombieism as an metaphor for disease and, in a way, coming of age, with a storyline about a lower-middle class family whose teenage daughter struggles with changes in her physical and mental states (after she is infected with a "walking dead" virus).

Chloë Grace Moretz was circling the title role of Maggie last year, but the latest update reveals that her busy schedule will prevent her from appearing in the film. More surprising, however, is the announcement that Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to play Maggie's father (seeing how a quiet character-oriented horror/drama isn't common ground for good ol' Arnie).

Variety says that Schwarzenegger has signed on to star in and produce Maggie, which is going to be the feature-length directing debut for the commercial helmer Henry Hobson (he also designed the end titles on films like Sherlock Holmes, Rango and Fright Night (2011)). Production is slated to get underway this fall, so it shouldn't be long before we hear about an up-and-coming young actress signing up to portray the movie's namesake.

Schwarzenegger and Stallone's The Tomb snags a release date

Schwarzenegger is in the middle of staging a last-quarter acting career comeback and he seems willing to spread his wings farther nowadays. The Maggie script written by John Scott 3 - a onetime NASA satellite guidance system programmer - made Hollywood's Black List of Best Unproduced screenplays; that is to say, this project sounds like a prime opportunity for Arnold to demonstrate his pure drama performance chops (in an emotionally-demanding supporting role no less).

On a related note, Schwarzenegger just keeps rolling on with nary a significant break in-between projects. He'll be working on both Maggie and The Expendables 3 during the second half of 2013 - while appearing on the big screen in Escape Plan this fall - and then jump right into production on Terminator 5 beginning in early 2014 (around which time he'll appear in David Ayer's DEA thriller Ten in theaters). Thereafter, Arnold has voiced his intention to finally make The Legend of Conan, followed sometime thereafter by the Twins sequel Triplets.

Are you excited to see Schwarzenegger in more action films? Or would you prefer that he concentrate on stepping outside his comfort zone, with quiet and thoughtful dramas like Maggie (given his age and all that)? Let us know what you think in the comments section.

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We'll keep you posted on Maggie as the story develops.

Source: Variety