leonardo dicaprio

Started by Jack Sparrow, September 07, 2003, 01:21:02 PM

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MacGuffin

DiCaprio's fueled by Enron
WB pic to be based on 'Fools' book
Source: Variety

Warner Bros. has made a preemptive deal to tell the story of Enron's collapse, with Leonardo DiCaprio starring and producing through his Appian Way shingle.

Studio is finalizing a rights deal on "Conspiracy of Fools," a book by New York Times reporter Kurt Eichenwald. Sheldon Turner ("The Longest Yard") has been set to write the script. WB paid seven figures for the book option and screenwriter fees.

Deal was made late last week based on a pitch delivered by Turner, who brought DiCaprio with him. Agreement puts the studio back in business with DiCaprio, who starred for Warner in "The Departed" and turned in an Oscar-nominated perf in "Blood Diamond."

In "Conspiracy of Fools," DiCaprio will play a newcomer to the Houston-based energy company who slowly peels back the layers to expose the campaign of greed and fraudulent accounting that drove Enron into bankruptcy in 2001.The scandal was previously chronicled in the 2005 docu "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," based on the book by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind.

After reading Eichenwald's book and figuring out a way into the story that made it work as a drama, Turner chased down the rights through CAA. DiCaprio, who co-wrote and narrates upcoming global-warming docu "The 11th Hour," sparked to Turner's take on the subject.

"Kurt made the factual stuff read like a thriller, and it felt right to tell the story from the point of view of an outsider," Turner said. "The goal was to take it away from feeling like a staid look at a corporation and turn it into a character study of how people react under adversity."
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


Skeleton FilmWorks

MacGuffin

Monahan, DiCaprio reconnect
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Newly minted Oscar winner William Monahan is reteaming with "The Departed" players Leonardo DiCaprio and Vertigo Entertainment for another Hong Kong remake, a thriller titled "Confessions of Pain" for Warner Bros. Pictures, which acquired the rights to the film.

"Pain" follows two close friends, one a police detective and the other a private detective, who team to investigate the murder of the cop's father-in-law. As the investigation proceeds, they uncover evidence that shows that nothing is as it appears.

The original, released last year, was created by Alan Mak, Andrew Lau and Felix Chong, the team behind "Infernal Affairs," the Hong Kong film on which Oscar winner "Departed" was based. MediaAsia produced and financed both movies.

"Pain" is being developed as a starring vehicle for DiCaprio, who will produce via his Appian Way banner along with Vertigo's Roy Lee and Doug Davison.

Monahan, who won the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay for writing "Departed," will adapt "Pain" and executive produce.

Dan Lin will oversee for Warners. Sarah Shepherd and Franklin Leonard brought the project into Appian.
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


Skeleton FilmWorks