As you know, Leonardo DiCaprio signs up for a lot of projects, and as you might expect, not all of them get made. Way back in 2010, the actor was attached to star in “The Deep Blue Good-By,” with Oliver Stone to direct. It was viewed as a potential franchise starter, but for whatever reason, it never really got moving and the pair moved on. But now, 20th Century Fox are turning to James Mangold to make to it happen.
“The Wolverine” helmer is now slated to direct ‘Good-By,’ with the latest draft of the script penned by Dennis Lehane (“Mystic River,” “Shutter Island“). Based on the 1964 book by John D. MacDonald, the story centers on Travis McGee, a Florida-based “salvage consultant” who, as is usual with this genre of pulpy fare, tends to get mixed up with women and in far deeper than you might expect. Here’s the Amazon synopsis for ‘Good-By’:
Travis McGee is a self-described beach bum who won his houseboat in a card game. He’s also a knight-errant who’s wary of credit cards, retirement benefits, political parties, mortgages, and television. He only works when his cash runs out, and his rule is simple: He’ll help you find whatever was taken from you, as long as he can keep half.
McGee isn’t particularly strapped for cash, but how can anyone say no to Cathy, a sweet backwoods girl who’s been tortured repeatedly by her manipulative ex-boyfriend Junior Allen? What Travis isn’t anticipating is just how many women Junior has torn apart and left in his wake. Enter Junior’s latest victim, Lois Atkinson.
Frail and broken, Lois can barely get out of bed when Travis finds her, let alone keep herself alive. But Travis turns into Mother McGee, giving Lois new life as he looks for the ruthless man who steals women’s spirits and livelihoods. But he can’t guess how violent his quest is soon to become. He’ll learn the hard way that there must be casualties in this game of cat and mouse.
No word yet on where this will fit on Mangold’s plate, but we’d wager Fox wants him to do the “Wolverine” sequel before he dips his toes in these waters. And certainly after Paramount’s double-miss with “Jack Reacher” and “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit“—potential action franchises based on best selling novels that underperformed—Fox will get their ducks in a row slowly to make sure this long-developing movie has a shot at success. [Deadline]
