Carey Mulligan is in negotiations to join the cast of Nicolas Winding Refn’s promising adaptation of James Sallis’ neo-noir thriller “Drive” which already has Ryan Gosling attached to star and Bryan Cranston (AMC’s “Breaking Bad”) also lined up to board.
The move will signify a remarkable progression for Refn’s reputation in Hollywood — something the director himself had hoped this adaptation would achieve, potentially bringing him closer to his passion project, a “Wonder Woman” film. The helmer had in fact originally planned to next shoot his Bangkok-set neo-Western “Only God Forgives” but decided to slide the Hossein Amini-scripted “Drive” in front.
Both projects will now shoot back-to-back in a process Refn once hilariously compared to “having sex with two girls at the same time. It’s double the fun but double the work,” in reference to shooting 2009’s “Bronson” and “Valhalla Rising” close together.
“Drive” centers on a nameless Hollywood stuntman (Gosling) who moonlights as a freelance getaway driver during robberies. When a bank heist goes wrong, he ends up on the run with a contract on his head and an ex-con’s girlfriend in his car. Mulligan will play said girlfriend with Cranston’s role remaining unknown. Recent casting calls have reportedly been on the hunt for Hispanic talent, presumably “to play tough inner-city L.A. characters.”
Lensing begins on September 20th with OddLot Entertainment, Bold Films and Marc Platt Prods producing. [THR]