After sharing an Oscar nomination for “Logan,” James Mangold and Scott Frank are reuniting to work on the film adaptation of Don Winslow‘s crime novel, “The Force.” Frank and Mangold earned Best Adapted Screenplay nominations for their unique story about former X-Man, Wolverine. Now the writing pair is revisiting the noir aspects of their aforementioned film with a new adaptation, with Mangold also serving as director.
Don Winslow’s “The Force” was one of the most acclaimed novels of 2017, with Fox acquiring the book for seven-figures in 2016, according to Deadline. It’s a crime thriller with deep moral conflict, akin to features like Martin Scorsese‘s “The Departed,” or Sidney Lumet‘s 1981 film “Prince of the City.” “The Force” tells the story of Sgt. Denny Malone, a police officer that is forced to choose between his family, his partners, and his life. A corrupt cop, Malone is now being attacked on all sides by gangs, the mob, the Mayor, federal agents, and his own brother cops.
This film marks a return of sorts for James Mangold. The writer/director, who is now best known for his superhero films, was also the helmer of “Cop Land,” back in 1997. That film also explored the dark side of the police force, with an all-star cast that included Sylvester Stallone starring alongside Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, and Ray Liotta.
Fox is working with Mangold on a separate project, developing a period piece about the race for dominance between Ford and Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans World Championship. The film will star Matt Damon and Christian Bale with either one being a good fit for the lead role of ‘The Force.’ Perhaps, we can see Bale or Damon working with Mangold again on this new project. With two projects underway, the greatest obstacle for Mangold and Fox will likely be scheduling out their features.