In his first post-Oscars announced role, “Elvis” star Austin Butler will lead the film adaptation of Don Winslow’s novel “City on Fire” at Sony Pictures.
The studio has made the project a high priority and will be meeting with writers and filmmakers immediately. Butler will produce alongside David Heyman and Shane Salerno.
The first title in a novel trilogy, the work could potentially be a franchise launcher for Butler should it perform well.
Inspired by Homer’s works like “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey,” but set in a contemporary crime world, the trilogy focuses on two criminal empires – one Irish, one Italian – that control all of New England.
A modern-day Helen of Troy-style event tears them apart and starts a brutal war. Butler will play Danny Ryan, a young man forced to grow from a street soldier into a ruthless leader to protect his friends, his family and his home.
Taking on the Mafia, the local cops and the feds, Danny has to build a dynasty or die trying. Winslow’s first instalment was published in April last year, with the second arriving in a few weeks.
Butler has multiple projects due out later this year, including Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two,” Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders” and Apple TV’s miniseries “Masters of Air” executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
Source: Deadline
