Doug Liman Will Direct 'All You Need is Kill'

Doug Liman has officially inked a deal to direct All You Need is Kill for Warner Bros. He was the rumored frontrunner months ago after his next slated project - an adaptation of The Three Musketeers - was delayed. There’s even the possibility of cancellation thanks to Paul W.S. Anderson’s own 3D Musketeer adaptation set to be released early next year.

All You Need is Kill will be based on a Japanese novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. The story is told by Keiji Kiriya. He is a new recruit in the United Defense Force, fighting mysterious aliens in a suit of battle armor. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to find himself resurrected each morning to fight and die again and again. His skills grow as a soldier with each day as he tries to change his fate.

Liman has put out a couple mediocre films (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Jumper) and is due for something great having given us The Bourne Identity, Go, and Swingers previously. Kill seems like a much more intriguing project than a Three Musketeers adaptation (seen one, seen them all) and it sounds like Groundhog Day meets Starship Troopers with mech suits. Other reports have indicated that the adaptation requires filming to start immediately so this could be something else to look forward to for next year. Especially if they can get Bill Murray to make a cameo in a mech suit!