Belgian film maker Gilles Coulier to direct international TV series ‘War of the Worlds’
The Flemish film director, Gilles Coulier, known for the television series ‘De Dag’ (‘The Day’), ‘Bevergem’ (‘The Natives’) and the feature film ‘Cargo’ will direct the first four episodes of the prestigious foreign series ‘War of the Worlds’.
The series is a contemporary edition of H.G. Wells’ science fiction classic War of the Worlds and describes what would remain of humanity on our planet after an alien attack. Following its earlier film adaptation by the highly-acclaimed American director Steven Spielberg, this time a Flemish director will be taking charge. Coulier has already been praised for the television series Bevergem, the full-length film Cargo and the short films IJsland (Iceland) (2009) and Mont Blanc (2012). War of the Worlds will be the young director’s first international project.
“After Bevergem, Cargo and De Dag, I was ready for a new challenge,” confirmed Coulier. This large Anglo-French co-production, starring actors including Oscar-winner Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects, Louder Than Bombs) and Downtown Abbey actress Elizabeth McGovern, is exactly the kind of project Coulier was hoping for. “It is a real honour to be able to draft out this great international project and have the opportunity to work together with this fabulous cast,” says the director. He does stress that this is not a final farewell to Belgium: “In the coming years, I intend to use my international experience for my work in my own country. That is why I am particularly delighted to move up a gear with our production company De Wereldvrede and be actively involved in this great project.”
