David Koepp is best known as one of Hollywood’s highest paid screenwriters (and one of Spielberg’s scribes). His screenwriting credits include everything from Toy Soldiers, Jurassic Park, and Carlito’s Way, to Panic Room, Spider-Man, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

For the last decade he’s been trying to make the transition into feature film directing. He made his debut with the promising Stir of Echoes, but has since followed up with some lackluster efforts, the 2004 Stephen King adaptation Secret Window and the 2008 Ricky Gervais supernatural romantic comedy Ghost Town. Honestly, I think Koepp is a much better screenwriter than he is a filmmaker, and that’s not saying much considering the abundance of lackluster screenplays he’s been involved with in the last 10-12 years. With that kind of intro, you must be really interested in his next directorial effort (yes, that was sarcasm).

Next up, Koepp will direct a film called Premium Rush, penned by his frequent screenwriting collaborator John Kamps. Aside from working with Koepp on Ghost Town and Zathura, he also wrote Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. Yup, no snarky commentary needed.

According to Variety, the story follows a 20-something-year-old bike messenger who somehow gets involved in a chase across New York City. And we’re not just talking about a little chase but big budget William Friedkin-style action sequences. Apparently a dirty cop is “desperate to get his hands” on an envelope the messenger received from Columbia University (the Macguffin?).

As much as I’m not a fan of Koepp’s filmmaking choices thus far, I’m always game for another chase movie, especially a film with a budget. Columbia Pictures is apparently fast tracking the project, and casting will begin searching for a leading man immediately. So I’m sure we’ll be hearing a casting and start announcement by year’s end.

bike messenger image via 72ppi