Beattie to direct war film 'Tomorrow'

Screenwriter Stuart Beattie will make his directorial debut with an adaptation of Tomorrow, When The War Began.

The John Marsden young adult novel series, published in seven parts between 1994 and 1999, centres on Australian teens battling off an invasion of their homeland. Beattie, who penned Australia and Collateral, said that Tomorrow will explore "coming of age in a war zone".

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Beattie noted that his movie would be different from the similarly-themed Red Dawn, the 1984 film that will be remade with Thor star Chris Hemsworth.

"I don't want to make Red Dawn," Beattie commented. "Do you remember when The Full Monty and Striptease were coming out together? They came out within months as the exact same premise - the parent strips for money so they can see their kid.

"One was all flash and rockin' body, and the other was completely the opposite, of total insecurity about getting up on stage. We're more like the Full Monty version."