With production officially set to commence next month, THR writes that actor Taylor Kitsch will star as the villain in director Michael Cuesta’s forthcoming novel adaptation, American Assassin. The film is inspired by Vincent Flynn’s 2010 novel, an origin story among the 14-book collection outlining the popular “Mitch Rapp” series from Simon & Schuster.
Kitsch joins opposite Maze Runner trilogy star Dylan O’Brien in the role of Rapp, an Arab linguistics student and counter terrorisim operative who, following the death of his fiancée, takes to task for a series of covert missions under the supervision of Cold War veteran and reluctant mentor Stan Hurley, played by Michael Keaton. Rapp and Hurley are subsequently directed by the CIA to investigate a wave of civilian and military attacks that force them to stop a terrorist plot that could ensue in World War III.
Di Bonaventura Pictures and Nick Wechsler Productions will produce the film while shoots are scheduled for locations in London and Budapest. CBS Films and Lionsgate co-financing the film with the former handling production and marketing, and the latter distributing.