Jonathan Levine Moves to Direct Chess Drama, 'Brooklyn Castle'

Jonathan Levine scored his biggest box office hit with last year's zombie romance, Warm Bodies, and considering all of his films have been generally well-received, he's had no trouble finding work. Just this month he landed on the shortlist to direct Marvel's Doctor Strange, and lined up a reteaming with his 50/50 pals Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen for a Christmas comedy. Now he's added one more project, and it's a remake of an award-winning documentary.

Levine is on board to direct a feature film version of Katie Dellamaggiore's SXSW award-winning chess documentary, Brooklyn Castle. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg will produce, with Will Reiser penning the inspirational true story centering on the kids of I.S. 318, part of one of the most distinguished championship chess programs in the country. This is despite the junior high being located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, with family incomes well below the federal poverty level.Of course in a situation such as that, budget woes always threaten to cut the program from the kids' live altogether.

It's a great story, one that be uplifting and infuriating, a combination Levine's ability to blend tones is perfect for. Count this as another feather in the cap of Rogen and Goldberg, who recently added Console Wars, the Preacher TV series, and an upcoming project with the Workaholics troupe. [Deadline]