Variety reports that Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov will helm a reimagining of the 1851 literary classic Moby Dick by Herman Melville for Universal Pictures.

While that may be taken as good news to some, the actual outlook is looking rather grim, as they are going to ditch Ishmael’s narration in favor of an “action-adventure revenge story” that will focus on showing the whale’s savagery before its encounter with Ahab.

Even worse will be Ahab’s portrayal – he will be shown more to be charismatic leader rather than the obsessive character he was in the book.

The project is in its first stages. Scott Stuber, jim Lemley, Cormac and Marianne Wibberley will produce.