David Gordon Green To Direct Boston Marathon Bombing Drama ‘Stronger’
The Boston Marathon bombing is officially Hollywood’s new favorite subject.David Gordon Greenhas just signed on to direct Lionsgate’sStronger, the third film in development about the 2013 terrorist attack. The other two arePatriot’s Day, set up at 20th Century Fox with Mark Wahlberg starring, andBoston Strong, which is in the works at Fox.
Learn all about the David Gordon GreenStrongermovie after the jump.
THRreportsStrongerwill be based on the memoir byJeff Baumanwith help fromBret Witter. Bauman was waiting for his girlfriend at the Boston Marathon finish line when the bombs went off, killing three people. Bauman was one of the 260 injured, losing both his legs. He later served as a key witness in the trial of bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.John PollonoandScott Silverwrote the script. Silver will additionally produce along withDavid HobermanandTodd Lieberman. The trio previously collaborated onThe Fighter, another fact-based drama set in the Greater Boston area.
Silver’s co-writers onThe Fighter, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson, are the writers behind competing Boston marathon bombing projectBoston Strong. That one is based on the book by Dave Wedge, who originally reported on the bombings for theBoston Herald, and Casey Sherman. It’s currently looking for a new director after Daniel Espinosa dropped out.
And the other Boston Marathon bombing movie isPatriot’s Day, described as an “intense thriller” following the five-day manhunt fro the Tsarnaev brothers. Wahlberg is attached to play Boston police commissioner Ed Davis, and Matt Charman wrote the script.Patriot’s Dayis also seeking a director.
The fact that it has a director putsStrongerslightly ahead of the other two projects for now, but Green won’t have much time to waste if he wants to get his film out first. He is currently putting the finishing touches onOur Brand Is Crisis, a political dramedy starring Sandra Bullock. There’s no word yet as to when cameras will roll onStronger.
Green began his career with indie dramas likeGeorge WashingtonandAll the Real Girlsbefore pivoting into comedies likePineapple ExpressandYour Highness. Lately he’s returned to dramatic territory withJoeandManglehorn.
