Greenlight for 'Dances With Wolves' Sequel

Movies
Pacifica Film Development has acquired motion picture and television rights to Michael Blake's forthcoming novel "The Holy Road," his sequel to the 1990 Oscar-winning "Dances With Wolves," reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Blake, who penned the Academy Award-winning screenplay for "Dances With Wolves," will adapt "The Holy Road" for the big screen. He is said to be aiming to complete the "The Holy Road" script by the end of summer, notwithstanding a possible writers strike.

Under terms of the deal, Intermedia, Pacifica's sister company under IMF, will have a first look at the potential movie project when it is packaged. Intermedia holds foreign rights to "Wolves," which marked Kevin Costner's directorial debut.

"The Holy Road" continues the saga of Lt. John Dunbar, who 10 years after the original "Dances With Wolves" story has become a renowned tribal warrior. As white invaders close in on his tribe, Dunbar's wife and youngest child are abducted, and Dunbar, known as Dances With Wolves, embarks on an extraordinary mission to rescue them.

Barry Spikings ("The Deer Hunter") will produce "The Holy Road," with Blake serving as executive producer.

"All the elements of the much-loved first film are there in 'The Holy Road,' but the stakes are much higher," Blake said. "Pacifica (has) demonstrated the level of commitment necessary to mount and bring to the screen entertainment of this scale."

Said Spikings: " 'The Holy Road' provides us with an even bigger canvas (than 'Dances With Wolves') to work with. The task we have set for ourselves is to surpass the achievements of 'Dances,' and Michael and I were convinced from the outset that Pacifica offered the ideal home for 'The Holy Road.' "

Pacifica was repped in the deal by co-president Linda Benjamin. Blake was repped by attorney Mark Temple. Mort Janklow of New York-based literary agency Janklow Nesbitt reps "Road's" publishing rights.

"Road" is scheduled to be published Sept. 15 by Random House imprint Villard.

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