Mann vs Depp for KGB Spy Thriller

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=18414

Columbia and Mann Enter Litvinenko Race
Source: Variety
January 12, 2007


Columbia Pictures and Michael Mann have entered the race against Warner Bros. and Johnny Depp to mount a film about Alexander "Sasha" Litvinenko, the ex-KGB agent who was fatally poisoned, reports Variety.

Based on a proposal and a sample chapter, Columbia paid $500,000 against $1.5 million early Friday for the screen rights to "Death of a Dissident," a book that is being co-written by Alex Goldfarb and the subject's widow, Marina Litvinenko. The book will be published in late May by the Simon & Schuster subsidiary Free Press.

Red Wagon partners Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher, who brought the project to the studio, will produce. Mann is in talks to direct. If that happens, his Forward Pass will produce as well.

The film will be an espionage thriller, exploring the collision between deep rooted Russian power structure enforced by the KGB and its successor, the FSB, and the new wave of wild west capitalism that came on the heels of Glasnost. And the way in which Litvinenko got caught between those two colossal forces. From his deathbed, Litvinenko blamed Russian president Vladimir Putin and his regime for the poisoning, ruled to be from polonium-210.

Personally i'd like for them to partner up on this with the studios sharing the bill,Mann directing and Depp starringt:

 

[Warhammer]

^I like.

 

[Hoedowned]

Personally i'd like for them to partner up on this with the studios sharing the bill,Mann directing and Depp starringt:

That would be the smart choice. Therefore unlikely

 

[Road Warrior]

Personally i'd like for them to partner up on this with the studios sharing the bill,Mann directing and Depp starringt:

That would be nice, but Hollywood is too competitive for that. So, I hope Depp wins because I want his production company to do well.

 

[Triadkd]

Depp is cool when he has scissor's for hands and a cursed monkey, but this is the kind of movie that was made for mann.

 

[BloodyWolverine]

I don't think performance you have to worry about with Johnny Depp. Depp does weird performances but he is one of kind and he can make lots of things work.

 

[dogwonder78]

Triadkd -- In my opinion you are 100 percent right.

 

[OtepApe]

I would say this type of thing is right up Mann's alley, but never count Depp out. Depp is one versatile hombre....yes, I said hombre.

Although, as hunter suggested, Mann directing and Depp starring would be dynamite.

 

[Hunter Rider]

http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/792/792753p1.html

Depp, Mann Teaming Up?

by Stax

US, May 30, 2007 - It was reported in January that there were two rival film projects about slain Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko in the works, one from director Michael Mann and another from producer-star Johnny Depp. Mann's film will be based on Death of a Dissident, a book co-written by the poisoned ex-spy's widow Marina. Depp's project is Sasha's Story: The Life and Death of a Russian Spy, based on the book by Alan Cowell. Now a report claims that Mann and Depp will team for Mann's version. Is it true?

According to The Guardian, Marina Litvinenko was at the Cannes film festival promoting Rebellion: the Litvinenko Affair, a documentary about her late husband, when she spoke about the dueling Hollywood movies. The paper's report, however, says that Depp will star in the Warners-based Dissident, which suggests that he has shelved his Sony-based version in favor of Mann's movie. (Dissident has a huge advantage over Sasha's Story in that it has the screen rights to Marina's life.)

IGN contacted Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil, which advised us that the Guardian report is inaccurate. We were told that Depp will not star in the Mann version and, although he is not attached to star in anything yet, if he were to make a Litvinenko movie then it would be Sasha's Story. So that settles that.

they really should come together on this instead of going head to head

 

[shapeshifter]

i have a pathetic man crush on depp so I will go see anything he does. the worst part is that my wife is obsessed with him too and enables me. we are going to be on the Dr. Phil show someday I know it

 

[tzarinna]

i have a pathetic man crush on depp so I will go see anything he does. the worst part is that my wife is obsessed with him too and enables me. we are going to be on the Dr. Phil show someday I know it

Well,tell the Hype when ya do.


Russians are getting a lot of play lately.
Count me in.

 

[TwilightPro101]

Here's to hoping for the team-up.

 

[Darth Elektra]

Depp and Mann need to get together!