Multi-talented Tate Taylor (The Help, Get on Up) will direct the upcoming feature In the Event of a Moon Disaster for FilmNation Entertainment, who is producing and handling international sales on the film.

The multiple award-winning Taylor will also come aboard to produce with his production partner John Norris (The Help, Get on Up). FilmNation developed the Blacklist screenplay that was written by accomplished feature film writer and former journalist Mike Jones.

When Pulitzer Prize winning author and presidential speechwriter William Safire died in 2009, a speech called "In the Event of a Moon Disaster" was discovered in his papers. Written in 1969, the speech was to be read by President Richard Nixon in the event that the Apollo 11 mission to the moon was met with tragedy. That speech is the inspiration for this film which plays out as a fictionalization or alternate reality of the events.

FilmNation's EVP of Production Karen Lunder, who originally brought the project to Tate Taylor and his production partner, John Norris, had this to say in a statement.

"Tate is an incredibly talented artist in every sense, and we have been actively searching for the right project to collaborate on. We're thrilled to have found it with Moon Disaster."

The feature has begun the casting process with a view to commencing principal photography in early 2015.