Variety reports that Catherine Hardwicke, director of "Thirteen" and "Lords of Dogtown," will develop "The Monkey Wrench Gang" for Columbia Pictures, a project based on Edward Abbey’s anti-establishment novel.
"William Goldman is penning a new draft of the screenplay. Ed Pressman, Lloyd Phillips and Gary Burden are producing.
Story concerns a motley group of environmental warriors who wage mayhem against road builders and other developers in southern Utah.
Publication of Abbey’s novel in 1975 gave rise to a new generation of environmentalists who practiced "monkey-wrenching" — sabotage for the sake of saving the Earth.
"Its time has finally come to reach the screen. Public interest in environmental matters is high, and Abbey’s irreverent, anti-establishment humor feels in synch with the times," said Pressman."
