predicting future technology with unsettling precision in Minority Report, Steven Spielberg appeared to be the ideal director for adapting Ernest Cline’s book, “Ready Player One.” Oddly enough, he was not the initial choice for bringing Halliday’s Easter Egg Hunt to fruition. Instead, a younger director was contemplated for the task, just before the rising filmmaker found himself in a predicament in Hollywood. Prior to Spielberg taking on Cline’s novel for adaptation, Josh Trank was contacted to helm “Ready Player One.” The proposal came after buzz began to circulate about Trank’s found-footage superhero film, “Chronicle,” featuring Michael B. Jordan and Dane DeHaan.
Having candidly mentioned that video games played a significant role in inspiring his directorial debut (via IGN), it created a fitting match between the director and the forthcoming adaptation. Nevertheless, per GQ, Trank declined the offer on two occasions before Spielberg came aboard the project in 2015. While it’s clear that Warner Bros. secured a more than suitable alternative, it could have easily ended up being yet another project that fell through following Trank’s rapid decline in reputation. After receiving accolades from critics and audiences, Trank’s subsequent effort was nearly a career-ending venture, and what many consider one of the worst comic book films ever produced.
