'Attack The Block' Director To Make 'Rust' Graphic Novel Adaptation

Attack the Block director (and The Adventures of Tintin co-writer) Joe Cornish is one of a couple young filmmakers that Fox has latched on to. Another is Josh Trank, just set to direct Fantastic Four. At the same time as Fox announced that it would move forward with a Josh Trank-directed Fantastic Four, and that a new director is needed for Daredevil, there's news that Cornish has been set to direct an adaptation of the graphic novel Rust: Visitor in the Field.

The original story is by Royden Lepp, with Aline Brosh McKenna scripting based on Lepp's graphic novel. The story follows a family whose lives are changed when a jetpack-wearing boy crashes into their barn while being chased by a giant old war robot.

Here's a description of Rust:

Rust is a high-octane adventure set in the prairie lands of an unknown time. Life on the Taylor family farm was difficult enough before Jet Jones crashes into the barn, chased by a giant decommissioned war robot! Oldest son Roman Taylor struggles to keep his family's small farm afloat as the area heals from a devastating world war. While the rest of his family may not trust the mysterious boy with the jetpack, Roman believes the secrets of Jet's past may be the key to their survival.

I've seen comparisons that link Rust to E.T., and to The Rocketeer, and even to the movies of Hayao Miyazaki. I haven't read Rust, however, so I don't know how on point those are. Looking at pages of the graphic novel online, however, and via the iPad app, I'm impressed at what I see, and this might be one of the books I have to grab while at Comic Con. The storytelling seems to be done primarily through action and movement, rather than dialogue, and I can see how aspects of it might seem like perfect inspiration for a film. And with Cornish directing, it might be truly special.