TriStar snags “Crichton-esque” female-led sci-fi thriller from Daniel Kunka

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

While making my way through today's wasteland of post-Cinemacon news drops, I happened to learn that TriStar has picked up a pitch from 12 ROUNDS scribe Daniel Kunka which is said to be a female-driven sci-fi thriller, based on the CAGN short story by Christian Cantrell. Escape Artists, the studio behind such films as THE EQUALIZER 2 and THE UPSIDE are in charge, with Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Tony Shaw, and Becky Sanderman each lining up to produce.

Hailing from the self-published story originally titled Anansi Island, Kunka's project is said to be a “Michael Crichton-esque” yarn that centers on a mysterious island where a secret government project has unleashed a terrifying new reality. A female entomologist and a group of Special Forces soldiers then must team up to unravel the mystery and survive the island.

For those of you who aren't all too familiar with the science of entomology, it's the study of insects and their relation to humans, the environment, and other organisms. I've not read Anansi Island, but the name refers to an Akan folklore character. Known to appear to many in the shape of a spider, Anansi is said to be the guardian of stories. In many cases, Anansi is often depicted as a trickster, spinning lies and promises to those who ask for his divine intervention. Could it be that Kunka's project will be in part mythological, or can we expect some eight-legged body horror when more details about the project emerge?

I suppose we'll have to wait and see, as the studio gave no comment about the film's status other than that they're interested in Kunka's vision.