Tom Cruise, UA pick up "Monster of Florence"

[Dark Donnie]

Tom Cruise, UA pick up 'Monster'
Studio acquires rights to Douglas Preston book
By NICK VIVARELLI

VENICE — Tom Cruise and United Artists have acquired rights to serial-killer thriller "The Monster of Florence," with Cruise attached to produce and possibly to star, according to Douglas Preston, author of the bestseller.
Preston and Italo journo Mario Spezi told Corriere della Sera they have inked with UA for a big-screen adaptation of their reconstruction of eight grisly double homicides believed to have been committed single-handedly between 1968 and 1985 in and around the Italian Renaissance gem.

"It's the biggest movie deal in my life," the leading Italo daily quoted Preston as saying in a front page story. Previous Preston tomes made into movies include thriller "The Relic."

"The film will have Florence and the Chianti as protagonists: two of the locations most beloved by Americans," said Spezi, a Florentine crime reporter and "Monster" contributor, to Corriere.

Reps for United Artists could not immediately be reached for comment.

Spezi said the script will be penned by Chris McQuarrie ("Valkyrie") and that Cruise will produce and decide whether he wants to star once he reads it.

The "Monster of Florence" case had previously inspired the Thomas Harris sequel "Hannibal."

http://www.variety.com/article/VR990001149.html?categoryid=19&cs=1

 

[Hunter Rider]

This sounds like a good project and it's good to see McQuarrie getting back in the game.

 

[matrix_ghost]

The question is if Cruise will star. Tom Cruise has a rep of aquiring and starring in several projects only to drop out later but still remain attached as a producer.

 

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=50614

Source: United Artists
November 17, 2008


United Artists Entertainment has announced that Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie) will write and produce The Champions and The Monster of Florence. Tom Cruise praised McQuarrie saying, "Chris is a remarkable talent who always brings a valuable perspective to the table. We are thrilled to be working with him on both projects." On "Monster," McQuarrie is teamed with producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen. Together they optioned "Monster" based on an excerpt from the book in 2006. The book eventually rose to #3 on the New York Times Best-seller list for non-fiction.

The Monster of Florence concerns a true series of incredible events from author Douglas Preston's life. Shortly after moving his family to Italy in 2000, Preston learned that an olive grove on their property had been the scene of a brutal murder. Teaming with Italian journalist Mario Spezi, Preston began investigating the crime, which was part of a series of eight double homicides between 1968-1985. The pair became embroiled in a web of intrigue that grew all the more sinister when they themselves were implicated by the authorities for the slayings.

McQuarrie sees the film as an opportunity to tell the story of a writer, not a serial killer. "'The Monster of Florence' is a surreal account of two writers opening a proverbial Pandora's box with their research. They witness first hand how the misguided good intentions of others allow evil to flourish, eventually becoming a part of the story themselves."

Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen are the Academy Award © winning producers of American Beauty as well as the upcoming Milk.

 

[Sava]

sounds good

 

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=73015

George Clooney to Star in The Monster of Florence

Source: Deadline
January 4, 2011

George Clooney is now attached to The Monster of Florence, which has been picked up by Fox 2000, reports Deadline.

The film is being scripted by Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, The Way of the Gun) and his friend, Nathan Alexander, with whom he previously teamed for Valkyrie.

Based on the besteller by by Douglas Preston (with Italian journalist Mario Spezi), The Monster of Florence would star Clooney as the author who, along with Spezi, tried to bring up evidence against who they felt was responsible for a string of serial murders in Florence that began in the late 1960's.


Read more: George Clooney to Star in The Monster of Florence - ComingSoon.net http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=73015#ixzz1AClKgynG​