You might remember that last year, and early this year, there were all kinds of rumblings and activity around the John Le Carré adaptation of “Our Kind Of Traitor.” Justin Kurzel, the Aussie director behind the unnerving “Snowtown,” had signed to direct, with Ewan McGregor attached to star, while names like Jessica Chastain, Mads Mikkelsen and Ralph Fiennes were all tossed around as potential cast members, with a 2014 shoot in mind. Well, that start date still seems to be in mind, but it looks like there’s been a switch behind the camera.
Baz Bamigboye reveals that Susanna White (“Generation Kill,” “Parade’s End“) has taken over duties on the film, with screenwriter Hossein Amini (“Drive,” “Snow White And The Huntsman“) taking another pass at the script. The thriller will follow an English couple who get mixed up with a Russian money-laundering oligarch. They get caught up in his plans to defect and are soon positioned between the Russian Mafia and the British Secret Service, neither of whom they can trust. It’s certainly promising material, and at least once actor is still intrigued to stay on.
According to producer Simon Cornwell (Le Carré’s son), there is “mutual attraction” for McGregor to play one half of the English couple, with the girlfriend part getting beefed up. “She won’t be Charlie’s Angels, but she’ll be stronger than in the book,” Cornwell said. We’ll likely soon find out more as cameras are planning to roll in early 2014.
As for Kurzel? Don’t worry about him too much. He’s got that “Macbeth” film brewing with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, so we figure he’ll be just fine.