Russian nuclear submarine disaster movie in works

French film director Luc Besson is developing a Kursk movie based on the 2000 K-141 Russia's Kursk submarine disaster, in which 118 Russians died.

The movie is being developed by Besson's EuropaCorp and he has hired Danish director Martin Zandvliet to direct the film, reported Variety.

Robert Rodat, screenwriter of Saving Private Ryan has written the script based on Robert Moore's book A Time to Die. The Kursk sunk during a Russian naval exercise in the Barents Sea after explosions within the submarine.

The Russian government refused help from foreign governments for five days before agreeing to aid from the British and Norwegian governments. Kursk will be Zandvliet's first English-language film, whose upcoming Danish-German drama "Land of Mine" will be screened at the Toronto Film Festival next month.

EuropaCorp is also developing Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne starrer Valerian along with The Transporter Refueled, Naomi Watts starrer Shut In" and The Lake, starring Sullivan Stapleton and JK Simmons, which will hit theatres on July 15.