James Gray is set to collaborate with French actor-director Guillaume Canet on his English Language remake of 2008 French film, “Les Liens Du Sang,” which Canet himself starred in.
Gray will reportedly be assisting Canet with the script for the roughly translated “Blood Ties” which centers on the ’80’s set story of two rival brothers, one a pimp and the other a cop, and how the former manages to be the family favorite. It sounds very much in the vein of Gray’s “We Own The Night,” with Gray’s own experience with sibling rivalry pics apparently why Canet recruited him in particular.
The project will hopefully come off the back of Canet’s upcoming starring role in Massy Tadjedin’s “Last Night” alongside Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley and Eva Mendes which is currently being left in limbo by Miramax’s closure. With the Weinsteins set to buy the company back, it may find its way to screen soon enough to precede his “Les Liens Du Sang” remake.
Canet’s definitely a talent to keep an eye on after his accomplished work in 2006’s taut thriller “Tell No One.” He also has “Les Petits Mouchoirs” (“Little White Lies”) starring partner Marion Cotillard due for release this fall with the promising team up with Gray probably still at least a year away.
As for Gray’s gestating adaptation of “The Lost City Of Z” with Brad Pitt to star — here’s what the director had to say courtesy of a Google Translation that was probably churned from English to French and then back again to English.
I hope to realize this project because it is not only challenging but it requires a substantial budget. It is an epic that begins in 1910 until 1925. This is huge because it is in England [and] in the Amazon. What does being a member of the civilized world? That means being part of the human race? It is a fundamental issue that has strong resonance even more today than yesterday. Here is a man who spent his time in the heart of the jungle and who has found beauty. We are seeking funding but I am convinced that we shall succeed.
Christ, that sounds amazing — please, someone make this happen. Even if it means starting a fund for Pitt’s legion of female fans to donate, hoping to see the day he shaves the nasty beard he’s growing to portray Col. Percy Harrison Fawcett. For now but, we’ll just have to find solace in Gray’s optimism for the project’s eventual production.