Paul Greengrass to Direct Drama about Berlin Wall, 'The Tunnels'

Paul Greengrass, the director of last year's Academy Award nominated Captain Phillips and The Bourne Ultimatum, has reportedly signed on to direct the film adaptation of Greg Mitchell's proposed book, The Tunnels, a drama set in the era of the Berlin Wall.

The Berlin Wall has featured in an array of different films - most of which are documentaries - including the made-for-tv German film The Tunnel (2001) and The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (1965). The Tunnels will follow the true story of a group of West Germans, funded with the help of American news networks, trying to get their families out of East Berlin.

Greengrass has plenty of experience with action films, and he proved last year with Captain Phillips, that he can combine this action with true stories. Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan), has also signed on to produce. Of course, a lot depends on the direction that Mitchell takes the book in. Mitchell has focused on political themes in many of his past works, so expect that to factor in both the novel and the film.  

Gordon has said of the project, “Paul and I have been looking for a project to work on together for some time,”. He also noted that they were both thrilled to be working with FilmNation to realise the project.