When you’re a writing and directing duo coming off an Oscar win, things move quickly for you as Mark Boal and Kathryn Bigelow are proving today. Shortly after reports this morning suggested their newest untitled and under wraps project was going to be about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden and be taken out for international sales, reps for the writer quickly put the kibosh on those reports and now we know why.
Financing and a greenlight for the reportedly low budget picture has come through via Megan Ellison, daughter of software billionaire Larry Ellison, and her production shingle, Annapurna Pictures. Moreover, the film is moving very quickly with location scouting and casting set to begin in the coming weeks as Boal finishes up the script all with an eye to shoot the picture this summer.
Plot details around the film remain firmly under wraps, but it’s based on a true story about “a U.S. military black ops mission, the ramifications of which are still being felt around the world.” Previous reports stated it’s based on a story that has appeared in printed form and apparently the picture was also shaped when Boal “obtained classified information” during research for the project. Take that Julian Assange.
As for “Triple Frontier,” the South American drug parable, it’s still on the slate but will now shoot after the international black ops thriller. Tom Hanks was already attached to star at the end of November, with the picture gearing up for a spring shoot, but with scheduling conflicts involving other potential leads, the start date was been pushed for now. It’s unknown if Hanks will remain on board or what other names are still circling the project — Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and Will Smith have been mentioned at various points — but that’s a guessing game we’ll save for later. Right now, we’re pumped that Bigelow and Boal are moving forward a new film and we’re excited to see how it develops. Cannes 2012 perhaps? Let’s hope so. [Variety]