Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow Re-Team for Emily Carmichael’s ‘Powerhouse’

Just last week a fun little rumor popped up suggesting that indie director and animator Emily Carmichael had met with Marvel about their Captain Marvel solo film. While we wait to see if there’s any truth to that rumor, Carmichael has lined up another major studio project, teaming with Steven Spielberg and Amblin for Powerhouse, a new action flick based on a story by Colin Trevorrow.

THR reports that Spielberg is re-teaming with Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow to produce the family action flick Powerhouse, which Carmichael will write and direct based on an original idea from Trevorrow. Simon Kinberg is also on board to produce the project. The studio is currently remaining secretive about the film’s plot, but given the talent involved, it’s safe to presume that there’s some sci-fi element to the story.

Carmichael is best known for her work as animator, writer and director of the Penny Arcade web series The Adventures of Ledo and Ix. She also wrote and directed the 2015 short film Stryka, starring Rupert Friend. There’s been a major disparity in the number of men and women plucked from indie filmmaking to helm big studio projects. Trevorrow himself went from making his feature debut with the sci-fi indie Safety Not Guaranteed to directing Jurassic World. And it was Trevorrow who offered some unfortunate thoughts (which he walked back fairly quickly) on why more women aren’t making similar transitions in Hollywood — so it’s good to see him putting his money where his mouth is.

Amblin is also behind Intelligent Life, the new sci-fi film scripted by Trevorrow and starring Lupita Nyong’o. That project is currently seeking a new director following Ava DuVernay’s departure.