This is a damn shame. Roman Polanski’s biggest ever project, the $130 million adaptation of Robert Harris’ novel Pompeii is no more. At least, it’s no more with Polanski at the helm. The legendary director has had to pull out because of scheduling difficulties because of the proposed strike next summer.

This is the second time scheduling problems have blighted the movie which originally should have been filming right now before a delay saw the project pushed back to a April 2008 start earlier this year. That delay also saw the movie lose it’s two lead stars in Orlando Bloom and Scarlett Johansson, which some found to be a very good thing.

Polanski had worked on the project for nine months but he wasn’t prepared to carry on with the project when it’s start date was put into question. Where the project goes from now is anyone’s guess but a pre-strike start now looks unlikely.

I would have loved to have seen a massive budget Polanski movie but alas Pompeii doesn’t look like it will be the one for him.

My girlfriend who enjoyed the book said it was pretty much unfilmable but I kept telling her to have faith with Roman Polanski on board, one of the most consistently good directors Hollywood has had over the last 30 years.

After today, I can no longer use that faith line.

source - coming soon, screen daily