Movies
‘Prisoners’ on Fast-Track, Bryan Singer Off Project
Said to be the hottest script in Hollywood, Warner Bros-based Alcon Entertainment has acquired the spec script The Prisoners and is planning to finance the project and produce with 8:38 Productions and Madhouse Entertainment, reports Screen Daily. Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale were said to already be attached to the film described as Se7en meets The Silence of the Lambs, as was director Bryan Singer (Superman Returns), but the article below states that they are actively seeking a new helmer.
The project is being readied quickly for an autumn 2010 release by Warner Bros.
Alcon co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson announced the deal, which was worth “mid-six-figures against low-seven figures” for the script by buzzed-about newcomer Aaron Guzikowski.
The thriller is about a small-town carpenter whose young daughter and friend are kidnapped. The man starts his own investigation but has to contend with the big-city detective on the case.
Kosove and Johnson will produce, along with 8:38’s Kira Davis and Madhouse Entertainment’s Adam Kolbrenner. Robyn Meisinger will executive produce.
Discussions with potential directors and cast will start this week.
Johnson and Kosove said: “This project has created considerable interest in town and we’re moving forward with it quickly. It’s a terrifically exciting project with compelling commercial appeal. We’re seeking top talent for the lead roles and hope to announce a start date soon.”
The script was brought to Alcon by Kira Davis, whose 8:38 Productions has a first look deal with Alcon. Madhouse Entertainment, which manages Guzikowski, initially developed the script.
Alcon also has two other projects for Warner release in 2010: The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock and The Book Of Eli starring Denzel Washington.
Scott Edel of Loeb and Loeb and Alcon’s in-house counsel David Fierson negotiated the deal on behalf of Alcon and Jeff Frankel of the firm McKuin and Frankel and David Fox of the firm Myman, Abell, Fineman, Fox, Greenspan & Light negotiated on behalf of Guzikowski and Madhouse. Also, Guzikowski is represented by Adam Levine, David Karp and Rich Cook of WME.
Andrzej Żuławski’s 1981 psychological horror movie Possession is getting a remake from Smile writer/director Parker Finn, and Deadline reports that The Batman actor Paul Dano has joined the cast.
No word at this time on character details, though.
The original film starred Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill as a married couple in Cold War-era West Berlin whose relationship spirals into a supernatural nightmare. In Finn’s update, Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner will star as the turbulent couple in Finn’s Possession, and Adjani has officially given her blessing on Qualley’s casting.
Parker Finn is writing and directing the new take on Possession.
He’s also producing alongside Jonathan Fass via Bad Feeling, along with Roy Lee and Andrew Childs via Vertigo, and Robert Pattinson. Marc Bienstock is serving as exec producer.
Our own Brian Keiper celebrated Possession‘s 40th anniversary here on BD back in 2021, writing: “Few movies depict emotional turmoil as effectively and daringly as Andrzej Zulawksi’s Possession. It is a challenging and sometimes inscrutable film, both for the mind and the emotions. Zulawski struggles through a number of deep issues throughout the course of the film; issues that speak to some of humanity’s deepest pains and fears. In many ways it is about loss— loss of political ideals, loss of faith, and loss of innocence. But most of all, Possession is about the fear, pain, and anger that comes from the loss of a marriage.”
This will mark Dano’s first horror role. The actor previously appeared in sci-fi hits Looper and Okja.
Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill in Possession
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