Perhaps the most tense, suspenseful thriller of last year wasn’t one of the big-budget action spectacle films released during the summer. No, it was the documentary, “Free Solo,” about one man’s journey to climb up a seemingly impossible cliff without the aide of rope. And while the story and the doc’s subject were fascinating themselves, the film also proved that directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin are quite adept at shooting action scenes, even if it means putting themselves in scary, life-threatening situations. And it appears for their next film, they’ll get to put those skills to the test.
READ MORE: ‘Free Solo’ Wins Best Documentary [Oscars 2019]
Deadline is reporting that Vasarhelyi and Chin are in talks to helm the upcoming, untitled Netflix film, based on the novel “Helicopter Heist.” The film tells the unbelievable true story of four Swedish men who attempt to use a stolen helicopter to rob $5 million. At the time, police and the world-at-large were stunned at the event.
Perhaps best of all, for the incoming directors, the film is set to star Jake Gyllenhaal, who is also a producer. Surprisingly, Gyllenhaal will have big shoes to fill if he hopes to compete with “Free Solo’s” breakout star Alex Honnold, who turned into one of the most interesting characters in all of 2018 film.
Vasarhelyi and Chin, a married couple in real life, are best known for their Oscar-winning doc “Free Solo,” but have proven themselves to be quality doc filmmakers throughout the years. This new Netflix film will mark the narrative feature debut for both directors.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Documentaries Of 2018
There’s no release date set for the film, but clearly, if the duo is wanting to make the leap into narrative features, a film about a heist using a helicopter, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, isn’t a bad way to do it.
