Ang Lee is in talks to direct the long-in-development clone assassin movie, Gemini Man. Some films are stuck in development hell for five, even 10 years. Then there's Gemini Man. The high-concept thriller was first announced at Disney 20 years ago, and it still hasn't made its way onto the big screen. Originally, it was pitched by Darren Lemke, with Don Murphy producing and Tony Scott directing, and over the years multiple writers, directors and stars were rumored to be involved in the latest phase of development.

The concept itself is incredible: An aging assassin is still the best in the business. The only way to defeat him? Clone him, and set his younger self against him in a battle of literal self-destruction. From the beginning, the plan was to use an older action star, and de-age him for his part as the clone, rather than use makeup to age a younger actor. As tech has caught up with this concept over the past few decades, it may be time to get Gemini Man on screen - and a new director is reportedly in talks to do just that.

The man to finally get this clone-assassin action movie off the ground could be Ang Lee, according to a new report from THR. The director is in talks to helm the project, which now has Jerry Bruckheimer producing, and Don Murphy executive producing. According to the report, Skydance (which picked up Gemini Man in 2016) "is ready to go all in, believing the time is right and the technology here."

Lee is best known for his work on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and more recently, The Life Of Pi. He is a two-time Academy Award winner, and could be the perfect man to take on this long-awaited project.

The technology has definitely reached a point where de-ageing a character is both possible and believable. It's been done in several films in the past, including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Star Wars: Rogue One. A de-aged Johnny Depp will also be appearing in the latest installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales.

While the tech is definitely here, and Lee would be a phenomenal choice for the director's chair, this news should still not be taken as confirmation that Gemini Man will definitely be going ahead this time. Lee has not officially signed on for the film, and it would not be the first time that the film has had a director on board and still not been made. However, things do look promising, so sci-fi and assassin fans can cross their fingers.

Gemini Man does not yet have a release date. 

Source: THR