by Britt Hayes

Steven Soderbergh is the Brett Favre of filmmaking. He’s retiring, he’s not retiring, okay just one more movie, nevermind. Look, I’m not complaining. Soderbergh is a seriously talented man with some seriously fantastic films (I can really do without Traffic, though). And now he’s lending his talents to something more palatable for horror fans: Contagion.

Contagion is based on a script by Scott Z. Burns, who also wrote last year’s The Informant! for Soderbergh. The project is being described as an “action thriller” about a deadly virus let loose on humanity, and the various people whose lives are affected by it. The different storylines will be woven together, a la Traffic. I’m hoping for more 28 Days Later and less Outbreak monkey.

According to Variety, Soderbergh has already signed on at least four stars for the film: Matt Damon, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Marion Cotillard. I’m so there. Damon has worked with Soderbergh before on his Ocean’s trilogy and The Informant! Kate Winslet is best known for kicking Leonardo DiCaprio off a raft and taking her clothes off in every film (if Soderbergh is the Favre of filmmaking, Winslet is the Favre of no longer taking her clothes off in films.) Cotillard won an Oscar for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose, and is also starring in the upcoming Christopher Nolan film, Inception. Jude Law was recently seen in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes and is a fantastic comedian (he’s got this great joke where he says he has 4 kids, but he really has 5).

While not much is known about the plot, the cast sure is shaping up to be an exciting group.