Wolfgang Petersen To Direct Trojan War Saga “Troy” For Warner Bros. Pictures And Village Roadshow Pictures

(August 12, 2002 – Burbank, CA) – Academy Award-nominated director Wolfgang Petersen has been signed to direct and produce the epic adventure “Troy,” for Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures, it was announced today by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Motion Pictures, Warner Bros. “Troy” brings to the screen the enduring classic “The Iliad,” a story of destiny, love and loyalty set against the legendary Trojan War, from a screenplay by novelist and screenwriter David Benioff (“The 25th Hour”). “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Wolfgang Petersen, one of our industry’s most dynamic and gifted directors, on ‘Troy,’ a project that has fascinated both him and Warner Bros. for quite awhile,” said di Bonaventura. “His last collaboration with the Studio was ‘The Perfect Storm,’ which was both a major critical and popular achievement, and I’m confident we will see history repeat itself with ‘Troy.’ We are looking forward to moving ahead on this exciting new motion picture.” Says Petersen, who is also committed to directing the Studio’s upcoming “Batman Vs. Superman,” “Of these two projects I have developed at Warner Bros., I had hoped to make Troy first and am pleased that the scheduling worked out that way. I’m looking forward to directing ‘Batman Vs. Superman’ in the future.” “Troy” is set to begin production in Spring 2003. Petersen will produce along with Diana Rathbun. Petersen, who first gained international acclaim with the 1981 classic underwater drama “Das Boot,” went on to direct “In the Line of Fire,” “Outbreak,” and “Air Force One” as well as the 2000 blockbuster “The Perfect Storm.” In 2001 he entered a first-look directing deal with Warner Bros. Pictures, for which “Troy” will be the premiere project. # # #