Dave Jeremy Kay reports at Screen Daily that D.J. Caruso’s new novel adaptation, The Killer’s Game, will commence principal photography in December. Actress Morena Baccarin (Deadpool, Deadpool 2) and actor Kris Wu (xXx: Return Of Xander Cage, Valerian) are both up for roles joining Ice Cube (Ride Along, Ride Along 2) and lead actor Dave Bautista (Blade Runner 2049).
Inspired by Jay Bonansinga’s 1997 novel, the action adventure thriller sees Bautista as a principled veteran assassin who learns he is dying. Thinking his days are numbered and refusing suicide as it goes against his Catholic principles, he stakes a multi-million dollar prize on his own life, only to realize two things: One – that he’s been misdiagnosed and is still in perfect health, and Two – his girlfriend is preganant. Now the two will have to race across Europe in order to outrun the cadre of hungry gamesmen now out for blood and a six-figure boost.
The Killer’s Game had been in development for up to 20 years whilst changing hands between studios and directors and passed up by potential leads including Wesley Snipes, Michael Keaton and Jason Statham. The film was previously developed at STX Films.
Dark Phoenix director Simon Kinberg, currently directing female-fronted spy ensemble, 355, penned the script with revisions by Caruso and by Peter Landesman. Steve Richards (The Matrix Reloaded) and Andrew Lazar (American Sniper, Get Smart) will produce with Capstone Group launching international sales as the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival this week.
Bautista just headlined Michael Douse’s Stuber alongside to Kumail Nanjiani and actor and martial arts star Iko Uwais, and just wrapped photography on Zack Snyder’s Army Of The Dead for Netflix. He is also setting up Traphouse which reteams him with Signature Films L.L.C. and Dream Bros. Entertainment (Final Score). On deck, the actor has upcoming family action comedy, My Spy (January 10, 2020), Denis Villeneuve’s Dune (December 18, 2020), and Marvel space adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2021).