Co-financing Deal Brings Release Date for Steven Spielberg’s Robopocalypse

Though Steven Spielberg’s name has long been connected to development work onRobopocalypse — a movie based on the book by Daniel H. Wilson — there has been scarce word in recent months about the project.
Spielberg has long been interested in the project, and working with screenwriter Drew Goddard (Cloverfield), even crafted storyboards as author Wilson was turning in pages. The legendary director was said to be eyeing the adaptation before turning his attentions to the highly-anticipated biopic,Lincoln, but there were no firm commitments in place.
All that appears to be changing. According to THR, 20th Century Fox will join DreamWorks in a co-financing deal that is said will bring Robopocalypse to the big screen on July 3, 2013.
Set in the future, the book tells the story of robots who have become an integral part of our everyday lives, but who one day turn upon us and become killing machines after being exposed to a sentient artificial intelligence buried miles below the surface of Alaska.
“Steven Spielberg will capture the story’s epic mix of thrills, scale, humanity and heart,” said Fox. “We are truly honored to once again collaborate with such a motion picture giant, as well as with the team at DreamWorks.”
Spielberg has a slew of projects either in development or slated for imminent release. War Horse andThe Adventures of Tintin arrive within five days of each other this year, while Lincoln is expected to land in theaters in December 2012.