Mathieu Kassovitz to make his directorial comeback with The Big War

Mathieu Kassovitz is set to direct his first film in thirteen years, titled The Big War, a blend of live action and animation. Best known for 1995's La Haine, Kassovitz's last directorial Rebellion came out in 2011 and also starred him as Capitaine du GIGN Philippe Legorjus.

Speaking about the project, Kassovitz told Deadline, “This is a project I’ve been working on for twenty years. It is inspired by cult French graphic novel La Bete Est Morte, which was written during the Second World War. It reimagines that war as enacted by animals. The Nazis are the wolves who go after the ‘vermin’ — the rabbits — who represent the war’s victims. The story focuses on two rabbits who go after their family who have been taken away and on their journey they discover adventures and more rabbits who join their cause (sic).”

Kassovitz scripted the film with Caroline Thompson, best known for projects like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, and Corpse Bride.

Animation specialist and producer Aton Soumache is also part of the project, which will mark Kassovitz's third feature in English after Babylon A.D. and Gothika.