“Peckham” director Fisher Stevens is set to direct the climate drama “The Montreal Protocol,” the true story of underdog scientists who set out to repair a hole in the ozone layer and avert a global environmental catastrophe.
Jess Kimball-Leslie (Kings of America) is adapting the story, which is in development at Stevens’ production company Highly Flamable alongside Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way (The Right Stuff, The Revenant) as well as New State Pictures. And the rights of curiosity. RandomGood Films (“Beyond Utopia”) is financing development.
RandomGood, Highly Flamable, and Appian recently collaborated on “We Are Guardians.”
The movement to fix the hole in the ozone layer – which began in the early 1970s and has continued for more than 20 years – is considered one of the most successful environmental initiatives of all time.
It was research by atmospheric scientist Dr. Susan Solomon, who discovered the cause of the rupture in the protective layer above the Earth’s surface, that paved the way to averting disaster. When Solomon was just 30 years old, Solomon and a team of American scientists ventured to Antarctica to collect important evidence proving that chlorofluorocarbon chemicals (CFCs) were linked to ozone depletion. Without this protective layer, the planet would be exposed to dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation with potential catastrophe by 2065.
The result of Solomon’s trip to Antarctica – where she and her team faced not only inhospitable conditions but also risked their reputation – led to a shift in public opinion, and thus a shift in the attitude of world leaders in dealing with the crisis. This eventually led to the creation of the Montreal Protocol, which to this day remains the only globally ratified global environmental treaty.
“The Montreal Protocol is an exploration of the successful collective effort between scientists, governments, businesses, press and consumers around the world, and serves as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when the world comes together to address the crisis,” he said. Stevens. “Today, our greatest hope lies in cooperation and courage, as we strive to repair the damage to our planet before it is too late. We have solved the problem before and we can do it again!”
Stevens, who directed “Palmer,” “The Lincoln Project” and the Emmy Award-winning “Peckham” among other projects, will also produce “The Montreal Project” alongside highly flammable partners Zach Kilberg and Maura Anderson. Philip Watson, Jennifer Davison and Leonardo DiCaprio are producing for Appian Way, with Anna Emdin for New State Pictures and JD Zacharias for Curiosity Rights. Christopher Gebhart and Randy Gebhart executive produce for RandomGood Films.
Highly Flammable is represented by WME and Gray Schwartz LLP. Fisher is repped by WME, Untitled and Danny Passman. Kimball Leslie is repped by WME, TFC and Yorn Levine.