Niccol the man

Kapiti Coast-born director Andrew Niccol, 45, of Gattaca and Truman Show fame, has written a new sci-fi screenplay, called I’m Mortal, reportedly in negotiations for purchase. The premise of his latest being: Got too much time on your hands? How about spreading the wealth around? In the Niccol’s vision of the future, aging has been thwarted and time is the new currency. The main character is a man who comes into a fortune of time, but nevertheless, finds it is too late to save his dying mother. Niccol’s name has also been linked to The City That Sailed, a family film at Fox about a New York street magician separated from his young daughter, who is living in London. After the young girl discovers magic candles that can make wishes come true, she causes the island of Manhattan to separate from the continent and float toward England. Will Smith has been mentioned as a potential lead. The Truman Show was nominated for a Best Screenplay award at the Oscars in 1999.