Jaunt Plans Lawnmower Man Remake as VR Series

PARK CITY: Jaunt has unveiled five new scripted projects in development, including a VR series based on the 1992 cult classic feature The Lawnmower Man.

Jaunt will be working with rights holders Jim Howell and Rupert Harvey to develop and produce a reimagination of the film that kickstarted the VR conversation 25 years ago. “The original movie was a film of unsurpassed imagination and creativity with its groundbreaking use of VR back in 1992,” said Howell. “Together with Jaunt we look forward to a contemporary team bringing to life a whole new world of VR; a world of immersive entertainment and communication. We are very excited to be working with Jaunt to create a VR realization of the film.”

Also on the planner is the action-thriller Luna. The 12-episode sci-fi suspense series is created by Adam Cooper and Bill Collage (Assassin’s Creed, Exodus: Gods and Kings) and will be directed by Robert Schwentke (the Divergent series: Allegiant and Insurgent, Flightplan). Luna follows an ensemble cast navigating an abandoned lunar base which results in them experiencing fear unlike anyone has felt before.

The Enlightened Ones, meanwhile, is an episodic VR series written and produced by Tye Sheridan (X-Men: Apocalypse, Ready Player One) and Nikola Todorovic of Aether. The political sci-fi series is set in an alternative present, where a device is discovered bringing immortality to the human race.

A six-episode “stoner comedy,” Bad Trip, is in the works from writer/director Todd Strauss-Schulson (Harold and Kumar 3D). The series will place the viewer in the hyper-visual and uncomfortable situation of taking various drugs in environments that are less than ideal.

Miss Gloria is a multi-episode show from New York Times best-selling author Daniel H. Wilson (Robopocalypse, How to Survive a Robot Uprising). Set in the distant future, the series situates the user in several distinct points of view as a “Robot Hero” tracks down a young girl who has gone missing during an uprising.

“As we continue to develop more immersive, cinematic VR content with high production values and longer run-times, it solidifies for us that VR is fast becoming a mainstream staple within the entertainment industry,” said George Kliavkoff, the president and CEO of Jaunt. “2016 was the final year of experimentation and every indication is that 2017 will be the year of action and adoption. We’re excited to be in development on all five of these series alongside some of today’s top talent.”