Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch / Daywatch / Wanted) has referred to new Russian flick Black Lightning as the Russian response to Transformers and The Dark Knight.

You’d question how good a response to these movies a budget of only 8 million dollars would allow, but after seeing the short teaser trailer below and the latest concept art floating around on the net, the movie has certainly begun to generate a lot of interest.

The story follows a Moscow student who suddenly finds himself in possession of a used Russian car that he learns can fly, and how thanks to the powers of the car he is transformed from an every day simple person into a super-hero and defender of the city.  It’s speculated the reference to Transformers indicates the car will have transforming abilities, and the reference to The Dark Knight relates heavily to the Gotham City style setting.

Whilst Timur Bekmambetov is attached to the project, the film will be the directorial debut of one of Bekmambetov’s long time friends, Alexander Voytinskiy.  Until now Voytinskiy’s resume has been limited to music videos and television commercials.  He is however supported by another of Bekmambetov’s colleagues, Dmitrij Kisele, who has worked on nearly all of Bekmambetov’s projects, including Night Watch, Day Watch and Wanted.  Kisele is actually credited as being the second Director on Black Lightning.

So basically Black Lightning has three top-class filmmakers attached to it.  Timur Bekmambetov is co producing the film with Universal Pictures.  Apparently filming hasn’t started yet however some pre-production work has occurred, allowing us a glimpse into the filmakers vision of the movie via a short teaser and some concept art.

Watch the short teaser which I have to say has ‘cool’ written all over it:

Black Lightning Teaser Trailer

Black Lightning will be released December 31, 2009 (I believe in Russia).

No other release schedule has been announced.

Sources:  First Showing, Obssessed With Film, Quiet Earth

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