Following the success of Fox' "Planet Of The Apes", Warner Bros. has confirmed development of a new feature adapting author H.G. Wells' horror novel, "The Island Of Dr. Moreau", focusing on human/animal hybrids, for Appian Way partners Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran.
Screenplay is by Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy ("Hemlock Grove"). Appian Way will produce with Mad Hatter Entertainment’s Michael Connolly.
Published in 1896, as "an exercise in youthful blasphemy", the original book is narrated by 'Edward Prendick', a shipwrecked man rescued by a passing boat who is left on the island home of 'Doctor Moreau', who creates human-like beings from animals via vivisection.The novel deals with a number of philosophical themes, including pain and cruelty, moral responsibility, human identity, and human interference with nature.
At the time of novel's publication in 1896, there was growing discussion in Europe regarding degeneration and animal vivisection. Two years later several interest groups were formed to address the issue including the 'British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection'.
The best known adaptation of the book is "Island of Lost Souls" (1932) starring Charles Laughton, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams, Bela Lugosi and Kathleen Burke as the 'Panther Woman'.
That film was directed by Erle C. Kenton and produced by Paramount Pictures from a script co-written by science fiction author Philip Wylie.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek an episode of Jesse Ventura's "Conpiracy Theory", investigating animal experimentation and the development of a 'Humanzee', human/chimpanzee hybrid, plus from SneakPeekTV, the full feature of "Island of Lost Souls"...
