Washington goes to the wasteland and a first look at Pelham 123

Variety reports that Denzel Washington is set to star in the post-apocalyptic drama Book of Eli, which will be directed by Allen and Albert Hughes. Washington will play a lone type in a dystopic future America, who must trek across America to deliver a book that could be the key to its redemption.

Gary Whitta, who was the editor-in-chief of PC Gamer Magazine in the 1990’s, wrote the original script, and Anthony Peckham handled rewrites.

Action movie maestro Joel Silver is producing Book of Eli, along with Washington, Susan Downey and Alcon Entertainment. Shooting is scheduled to start in January of 2009.

Washington recently wrapped the Tony Scott-helmed remake of The Taking of Pelham 123, along with John Travolta. Whitta recently adapted the manga Akira into two upcoming films for Warners. Peckham penned The Human Factor, which Clint Eastwood will direct and co-wrote the screenplay for the upcoming Sherlock Holmes, which Guy Ritchie is directing for Warner Bros.

Just Jared has some pics of Denzel in the upcoming action thriller Taking of Pelham 123, a remake of one of my favorite action films of the 1970’s. CLICK HERE to see more of the pics. John Travolta co-stars in the crime thriller and plays the leader of a group of subway train hijackers who demand ransom, while Denzel plays Zachary “Z” Garber, chief detective of security for the MTA.