David Cronenberg and Denzel Washington: those are two names we’d never figure we’d hear in the same film together. An odd pairing, no? Well, Cronenberg is in talks to direct, a political thriller called, “The Matarese Circle” for MGM according to Variety.
Denzel is already attached to star and just his name on the project would probably make it one of the biggest films the cerebral Cronenberg has ever worked on. Based on a Robert Ludlum spy novel set in the Cold War, ‘Circle’ focuses on two agents, one U.S. and one Russian who uncover an century-old conspiracy that threatens to create chaos in the world. Michael Brandt and Derek Haas are adapting the screenplay.
Washington would obviously play the American, but there’s no word on who the Russian would be played by yet. Viggo Mortensen, since he seemed to play such a convincing Russkie in Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises,” or is that too close to home been done? Probably, but wouldn’t it be great to see those two face off?
We’ll find out soon enough. The project is being fast-tracked by MGM and the studio is eyeing a spring 2009 production start date.