Universal Pictures has hired Jonathan Mostow to rewrite and direct the long-in-development comic book adaptation of Marvel's Sub-Mariner.

David Self (The Haunting, Thirteen Days, Road to Perdition) wrote an earlier draft of the screenplay, which originally had Chris Columbus (Home Alone) attached to direct. The project fell apart in 2005. Self is still attached to write Deathlok and Captain America.

Namor the Sub-Mariner was created by cartoonist Bill Everett in April 1939. Namor is an undersea hero born the son of a human sea captain and a princess from the mythical kingdom of Atlantis. Namor is arguable the first know comic book anti-hero, possessing the super-strength and aquatic abilities of the "Homo mermanus" race. The Sub-Mariner is not only a historically important but relatively popular character within the Marvel universe. Namor also was the first Marvel comic book to attempt an animated television show, in 1966.

Jonathan Mostow's filmography includes U-571 and Terminator 3. Mostow is also attached to direct the recently announced Terminator 4, a Swiss Family Robinson remake, and a Real Steel, a boxing drama set in the near-future where 2,000-pound human-like robots that do battle.