By Simon de Bruyn
Gabriel director Shane Abbess seems to have shelved plans to make a second Australian feature, with Universal Pictures announcing he will direct a sci-fi thriller to be produced by Saving Private Ryan producer Mark Gordon.
The film, Source Code, is believed to be the first of a three picture deal with the studio.
Prior to this deal, Abbess was linked with several projects including another local thriller from the same producers as Gabriel, called The Last Stand, as well as a remake of cult classic The Dark Crystal.
Abbess famously made Gabriel on a shoe string budget of $150,000 before it was picked up by Sony Pictures for worldwide release. It went on to take $1.2 million at the Australian box office but went direct to DVD in most other territories.
He is also developing several projects with long time collborator Matt Hylton Todd.