I rarely write about screenwriters but William Monahan has written a lot of interesting films. He's also jumped into directing which could move a lot of his films into production, with him behind the camera. I'd figure I would layout some of his future projects and what we can look forward to. The Oscar winning writer has done a lot since only having three films released since 2005. The Departed which brought back Scorsese back to gangster film making and would win him his Oscar. Along with the Ridley Scott films Kingdom of Heaven and Body of Lies, which are some of my favorites from Scott.
COMING SOON
His two films that will be released are Edge of Darkness (January 29th 2010) and his directorial debut London Blv (2010). Edge of Darkness is a film adaptation of the amazing BBC mini-series. It follows a decteive who's daughter is murdered right in front of him. He goes on his own to solve her murder. His investigation reveals her secret life and the people who could want her dead. The film stars a-list cast including Mel Gibson and is directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale).
London Boulevard is based on the novel by Ken Bruen and was adapted by Monahan. It focuses on an ex-con who becomes invovled with a reclusive actress. It stars Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley, Ray Winstone and Anna Friel. It will be interesting to see how Monahan's directorial debut plays out.
IN DEVELOPMENT
There has been talk of Monahan writing the English remake of The Chaser for Warner Bros. Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception) could play the lead with Monahan also producing the film. It would be the third project the two have worked on together. The original Korean film focused on a dirty detective turned pimp in financial trouble as several of his girls have recently disappeared without clearing their debts. While trying to track them down, he finds a clue that the vanished girls were all called up by a same client whom one of his girls is meeting with right now.
Monahan is also working on another film with DiCaprio, a remake of Confression of Pain retitled Nothing In The World. Also setup at Warner Bros., DiCaprio's production company Appian Way is set to produce the film. It's unknown if he'll star in the film but it could happen.
Mark Wahlberg talked to Empire magazine back in 2007 about development on Departed 2 and Departed 3. He stated that Monahan was hard at work on the screenplays. It's assumed that Infernal Affairs 2 and Infernal Affairs 3 would be the source. Since the first film was inspired by the original installment of the triloy. Along with possible material that Martin Scorsese has recently bought for film options. Wahlberg also mentioned Robert De Niro could play a role in the follow up. Harvey Keitel's name has also been attached as well. While I expect Scorsese to stay on as producer it's unknown if he'll return as director. If that's the case I expect to see these films shoot back to back.
The Art of the Heist will be Monahan's follow up to London Boulevard. Based on the biography by Jenny Siler that focuses on the life of notorious Boston art thief Myles Connor. Along with playing in Roy Orbison's back-up band, Connor also was a fairly successful art thief in the 1870s and 80s. He is perhaps best known today for being the main suspect in the burglary of Boston's Isabella Gardner Museum - a $300 million dollar heist in which priceless works by Vermeer and Rembrandt were taken. Connor has denied taking the pieces but says that he "knows who did." He's also going to write/direct The Essex. A historical drama about Capt. David S. Porter and his daring sea battles against the British during the War of 1812.
Tripoli (2011) setup at 20th Century Fox with the possiblity that Ridley Scott will helm it. The film tells the story of William Eaton, an American who helped the heir to the throne of Tripoli (modern Libya) oust the corrupt and tyrannical leader who sat in his place. Russell Crowe (Robin Hood) was originally hired as the lead but could have been replaced by Keanu Reeves.
The Venetian adapted from Marco Polo's Travels which could be the next film for director John Woo (Red Cliff). It was originally a starring vehicle for Matt Damon.
Falcon’s Tale based on the article entitled "The Strange Redemption of James Keene" published in the August 2008 issue of Playboy. Martin Scorsese is apparently attached to direct.
“James Keene was serving a 10-year-to-life sentence as a convicted drug dealer when the FBI came to him with an amazing offer. They wanted him to enter a high-security prison for the criminally insane in order to get information from a suspected serial killer awaiting retrial. If he helped them succeed, they would free James from prison. Only one person in the prison would know Jim’s true identity.”
An adaptation of John Grisham's The Associate with Shia LaBeouf (Wallstreet 2) attached to star. LaBeouf will play a Yale Law School student with a sordid secret that leaves him vulnerable to blackmail. He's manipulated into taking a job at a law firm and working on a multibillion-dollar lawsuit.
Monahan will do re-writes for Martin Scorcese's The Long Play, which Mick Jagger will produce. The film follows two friends through 40 years in the music business, from the early days of R&B to contemporary hip-hop. It was an original concept by Jagger setup at Disney but would later move to Paramount, since it didn't have family-friendly content.
Wartime Lies is based on the novel by Louis Begley. An orphaned nine-year-old and his sharp-tongued aunt pose as Catholic Poles to hide their Jewish identity from the Nazis. The novel was originally adapted for Stanley Kubrik's Aryan Papers but was never made. Mazar e Sharif based on the novel Horse Soliders by Doug Stanton. Monahan also has wrote unused screenplays for Jurassic Park 4, Blood Meridian which was going to be for Ridley Scott to direct.
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