• I don’t know how this got past my radar, but the word is State Street Pictures has optioned independent comic, Assassin & Son, for a film adaptation – about an assassin forced back into the violent world he left when his wife gets brutally murdered in front of him and his young son. Scout Comics & Entertainment are producing the pic based on the comic created by ex-wrestlers Marc Copani and the late Shad Gaspard, who tragically passed away after getting caught in a riptide while saving his son in May of 2020. (Deadline)
• Jamie Foxx will star in Tin Soldier, a new revenge actioner that sees a military operative recruit a soldier with a vulnerable past to infiltrate an impenetrable cult of soldiers and veterans led by an enigmatic leader known as “The Bokushi”. Robert De Niro, Scott Eastwood and John Leguizamo will also star with shooting starting next week in Greece from The Lincoln Lawyer helmer Brad Furman with a script by Jess Fuerst. Pic is backed by Road Less Traveled Productions, along with Unified Pictures, Current Entertainment and Blue Rider Pictures. WME Independent is handling international sales in Cannes with CAA Media Finance and WME Independent co-repping North America. (Deadline)
• Brookstreet Pictures and Sugar23 are producing hitman noir thriller, Knox Goes Away which shoots in August. Michael Keaton (Birdman, upcoming The Flash) is directing and starring in the pic about contract killer in a race against time between running from the police, looming dementia, and saving his son’s life. ICM Partners and Verve Ventures are co-representing domestic rights at the Cannes market with FilmNation handling international. (Deadline)
• Details are being confirmed that Margot Robbie is indeed in talks to headline a reboot of the Pirates Of The Caribbean, following 2020 reports of the Birds Of Prey and The Suicide Squad star’s attachment to the sixth film written by Christina Hodson. If confirmed, Robbie would claim the throne previously held by Johnny Depp who shepherded the franchise in the role of Captain Jack Sparrow dating back to Gore Verbinski’s 2003 film from Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. (The Times UK)