At the end of October, it was reported that summer blockbuster extraordinaire, Roland Emmerich, was set to begin filming a secret new alien invasion movie called The Zone that would channel the likes of The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity (Read: ‘2012″² Director Roland Emmerich Wants To Make “˜Paranormal Activity’ “¦ With Aliens).

The “found footage” style movie was said to tout a $5 million micro-budget, hundreds of millions of dollars less than Emmerich is used to having on his movies, such as Independence Day, Godzilla, and 2012. We all wondered if this tiny budget would be a good thing for the director, who has been critically assaulted quite often (deservedly so), forcing him to worry about quality over just attention-grabbing effects.

Now we may never know.

It’s being reported that Emmerich’s involvement in The Zone is now non-existent after he decided to walk away, and that production on the movie has currently come to a halt. “This is not a project (Emmerich) is pursuing at this time,” said one of the director’s representatives, which has those involved with the production stunned.

It seems like some think the “found footage” phenomena is already past its welcome (though some, including myself, would rather see more of them than the 3D we keep getting stormed with) and that’s why Emmerich bolted. Another theory is that the movie was set to be released a week after another project, Apollo 18, which is to be filmed documentary-style and tell of a mission to the moon that turns up proof of otherworldly lifeforms. Apparently this is too similar to someone with a camcorder recording an alien invasion of Earth? Who knows.

Now the question becomes whether someone else will step up and take the reigns for The Zone, or if Emmerich’s departures is a death blow. I’d have to think the former is a lot more likely, and I hope they find someone much more exciting to make it happen.

[Source: Heat Vision]