Anton Yelchin Joins Koontz' "Odd Thomas"

Anton Yelchin Joins Koontz' "Odd Thomas"

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

In the past few years, Anton Yelchin has taken on the roles of some iconic figures, including as time-traveling hero Kyle Reese in "Terminator: Salvation" and as Pavel Chekov in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek." I thought Yelchin was excellent in both films, and although one of his next upcoming projects isn't for a character as well established, the actor should have no trouble stepping into his shoes.

According to Shock Till You Drop, Yelchin is the first to join the cast of the $47 million adaptation of Dean R. Koontz's 2003 novel "Odd Thomas" for Fusion Films.

The story follows Odd Thomas, an optimistic twenty-year-old short-order cook who can see both dead people and the shadowy figures called 'bodachs' that appear around death and disaster. When bodachs seem to be swarming around a diner customer he nicknames 'Fungus Man', Odd is convinced the man is connected to a terrible catastrophe about to occur. Stephen Sommers is directing the movie from a script he adapted.

While the fact that Sommers wrote and will direct the film may not be the best news in the world (umm see "G.I. Joe"), having Yelchin top the cast may be what helps make this film something special. The story sounds fascinating and original and looks as if it should translate to the silver screen pretty well.

Yelchin has some acting chops; the naïve and truthful performance he put on as the main victim in "Alpha Dog" a few years ago really impressed me and I think this role should suit him quite well.

Howard Kaplan and John Baldecchi will produce but no production start date has yet been set.