A Promising Sci-Fi Director Rejected Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One

Before Steven Spielberg brought Ernest Cline's Ready Player One to the big screen, another young director was initially considered for the project. Josh Trank, known for his found-footage superhero film Chronicle starring Michael B. Jordan and Dane DeHaan, was approached to helm the adaptation due to his open admiration for video games and their influence on his filmmaking.

Trank, however, declined the opportunity twice, which eventually led to Spielberg taking on the project in 2015. Despite Tranks refusal, Warner Bros. quickly found a suitable replacement, though the timing was significant. Tranks career faced turbulence after Fantastic Four (2015), which received overwhelmingly negative reviews and left a lasting mark on his reputation. Critics and audiences alike criticized the film, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 9% rating, while NME labeled it a "horribly botched reboot." The setback paused Tranks career, shelving projects including a planned Boba Fett movie and delaying his return to directing until 2020 with Capone.

Spielbergs version of Ready Player One was met with positive reviews, praised for its spectacular CGI and faithful celebration of pop culture, delivered in Spielbergs signature style. In 2024, plans for a film adaptation of Cline's sequel, Ready Player Two, surfaced with a new director attached, but updates have been sparse, suggesting the project is currently on hold.

Author: Aiden Foster