Carl Erik Rinsch’s 47 RONIN Starring Keanu Reeves

Carl Rinsch’s first feature film, 47 Ronin, starring Keanu Reeves, has been given the green light by Universal and a release date: November 21st, 2012. THR reports due to the green light, Rinsch has stepped down from Logan’s Run, the sci-fi feature he was previously set to direct, leaving the spot ready for another to claim. It’s unfortunate as Warner Bros. has had scant success securing a director to remake the film, but Rinsch feels he needs to prioritise and redirect his time and focus to ensure that 47 Ronin is a success.


The legend of the 47 Ronin is based on the true story of a group of samurai who avenged the forced, ritual suicide of their master back in 1702. The leaderless samurai, or Ronin, plotted revenge for nearly a year before murdering the court officials who brought shame on their master and were rewarded by a big helping of their own forced, ritual suicide.


Hit the jump for more on the struggle to revive Logan’s Run.


Since 1994, Warner Bros. have been really pushing for a remake of the academy award-winning cult hit Logan’s Run, although despite three directors joining the effort  Robert Schwenke, James McTeigue and Joseph Kosinski  none followed it through to fruition. Rinsch was the latest to rekindle hope, but it was never going to last, as Collider’s Matt Goldberg anticipated way back in May, observing that Rinsch had a full plate already. Rinsch has been hot stuff since he caused an excited stir with his fantastic sci-fi short The Gift earlier this year.


Logan’s Run is about a futuristic society that executes everyone as they reach the age of thirty in order to prevent overpopulation. The story follows the flight of Logan 5, a character on the run from the fatal deadline. However, with no word yet on who will step up to fill Rinsch’s recently vacated shoes, it looks like the film is back in limbo as it has been for the past few decades.


For details on Logan’s Run straight from the horses mouth, see our interview with producer Joel Silver back in May, who filled us in on progress at that time.


Carl Rinsch is also on board with Universal for a remake of Creature from the Black Lagoon, yet another movie that has struggled to acquire and keep a director. Time will tell if Rinsch is the man for the job.