After taking the Berlin Film Festival by storm with “Snabba Cash” which subsequently saw remake rights quickly snapped up with Zac Efron attached to star, helmer Daniel Espinosa is now fielding offers from major studio projects for his first English-language effort.
In addition to the previously revealed “X-Men: First Class” gig, Espinosa is evidently being looked at for the likes of Aaron Guzikowski’s much-buzzed script “Prisoners” with Leonardo DiCaprio and the Steven Soderbergh-produced “Making Jack Falcone” which has Benicio Del Toro attached to star.
“Prisoners” has been linked to a whole rotation of talent including the likes of Bryan Singer, Christian Bale, and Mark Wahlberg, and at one stage had Antoine Fuqua directing Hugh Jackman, before being indefinitely delayed. Most recently, DiCaprio’s name came up though his involvement is reportedly dependent on which helmer will eventually sign on to the Black List script about a Bible-reading, deer hunting survivalist who takes the law into his own hands after his 6-year-old daughter and her friend are kidnapped.
Espinosa’s potential collaboration with Soderbergh and Del Toro, meanwhile, follows the true story of Joaquin Garcia, an undercover Cuban FBI agent who famously infiltrated the Gambino crime family. Pic comes by way of Double Features’ Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher and is being written by “Che” scribe Peter Buchman.
Other projects on Espinosa’s radar include Us Magazine editor David Guggenheim’s South American thriller “Safe House” which recently sold to Universal as well as an Atlas Entertainment untitled crime thriller that’ll center on Ingrid Casares and Chris Paciello, who rose through the Miami nightclub scene but fell hard amid charges of bank robbery and murder. Both would see the helmer return to similar territory explored in “Snabba Cash.”
There’s no real indication as to which way Espinosa is leaning, but an offer has apparently been made to him for “Safe House,” meetings have taken place for “Prisoners” and the other two are in the mix for now. Whichever way he goes, the fact he’s already being linked to projects with DiCaprio and Del Toro attached is indicative of his quick rise to Hollywood prominence.
