Von Trier planning a sci-fi disaster picture

Following his sure-to-be controversial horror/porn movie Antichrist, the ever-unpredictable Lars Von Trier (Europa, Dancer in the Dark et al) is planning to shoot Planet Melancholia, which Variety describes as a "psychological drama-cum-disaster movie" in which the Earth collides with a planet called Melancholia.

In case you think Von Trier is selling out, it's not like he's planning some big, 2012-style Hollywood epic. While his film will feature some special effects, its budget is a modest $7 million and the plot won't involve aliens.

Von Trier appears to have already spoiled his own ending, telling Variety, "No more happy endings!" Although, this being Von Trier, is that really much of a surprise? Offhand I can't think of a Von Trier picture that didn't end with everybody dead or at least wishing that they were. Come to think of it, it's surprising it's taken him this long to blow up the world. It's pretty much what he's been building up to all along.

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