Antoine Fuqua Directing Escobar

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=38185

Source: Variety
October 9, 2007


Antoine Fuqua will direct Escobar, a biopic about the notorious Colombian cocaine trafficker Pablo Escobar. Oliver Stone will produce with J2 Pictures partners Justin Berfield and Jason Felts, and James Reach.

Fuqua, Stone and J2 are up against Killing Pablo, an adaptation of the Mark Bowden book about the hunt for Escobar that Joe Carnahan will direct. Bob Yari is financing that project, with Javier Bardem and Christian Bale attached to star.

Escobar is based on "Mi Hermano Pablo," a book written by Roberto Escobar Gaviria, who served as his brother's accountant and confidant and whose company, STL Holdings, committed the life and literary rights of the Escobar family.

David McKenna (Blow, American History X) is working on a rewrite under the supervision of Stone and Fuqua.

Production is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2008 in Colombia and Puerto Rico.

"My brother will be portrayed as a ruthless head of the Medellin cartel," Escobar Gaviria said in a statement. "This is just 10% of the story. The other 90% is the story others trying to portray him simply don't have."

Stone said: "This is a great project about a fascinating man who took on the system. I think I have to thank 'Scarface,' and maybe even Ari Gold."

 

[Dark Donnie]

What's with Stone stepping on the toes of other Biopics in the works??

 

[terry78]

This should be pretty decent. Though I can already tell it's going to get the same attention from the wannabe gangstas that idolize Escobar as they do Scarface.

 

[cba]

So two movies are coming in a year on the Escobar

It`ll be interesting to see who they cast as Pablo number 2 - Javier Bardem is casted in Killing Pablo.

 

[L0ngsh0t]

two movies about the same subject in the same year is a common practice, both sound like they could be sweet

I love Fuqa I think he is primed to explode at some point hopefully this will be the flick

 

[xwolverine2]

bleh... not interested. i was hoping he would do something better...

he's a pretty darn good director..shame

 

[Joker]

much more interested in Hunting Pablo...

 

[Darkly Dexter]

looks interesting

 

[The Dark Defender]

The story doesn't appear to do much for me, but I like Fuqua and Bale enough to give it a shot.

 

[Dark Donnie]

The story doesn't appear to do much for me, but I like Fuqua and Bale enough to give it a shot.

Bale is in the other Escobar film Killing Pablo

 

[Sincere]

I just finished the script and his is going to be damned good. This movie would focuses more on his youth, so I dont think it would clash too much with Joe Carnahans project.

 

[Dark Donnie]

I just finished the script and his is going to be damned good. This movie would focuses more on his youth, so I dont think it would clash too much with Joe Carnahans project.

Have you read Caranahan's? I just dont't want Killing Pablo to get pushed aside like the DiCaprio Alexander did.

 

[Hudson]

Christian Bale Starrers wins! because it has... well Christian Bale!

 

[bunk]

Christ, I hope they don't try to paint him as a sympathetic character at all. The guy was a f***king monster.

 

[Sincere]

Have you read Caranahan's? I just dont't want Killing Pablo to get pushed aside like the DiCaprio Alexander did.

Carnahans movie is based on the novel Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden so read that if you want to get an idea on what the movie will be like. I like carnahans cast, and fuquas script so it's really a toss up for me. If carnahan doesent get this I hope he starts working on white jazz.

 

[Dark Donnie]

This is who Fuqua has cast as Pablo

I prefer Bardem in the other film personally

 

[Poetic Chaos]

Should've gotten Billy Walsh to do it.

 

[Dark Donnie]

Should've gotten Billy Walsh to do it.

He's to busy doing Silo