Dennis Lehane is reteaming with Leonardo DiCaprio on 20th Century Fox’s crime pic Travis McGee.

Lehane, one the authors whose books Hollywood just loves to adapt, is set to write the screenplay for the DiCaprio vehicle, which is based on John D. MacDonald’s 1964 mystery novel The Deep Blue Good-by. Paul Greengrass is attached to direct.

The project marks the fourth pairing of Lehane and DiCaprio. Lehane wrote the novel Shutter Island, which starred DiCaprio, as well as the short story Running Out of Dog, which DiCaprio is developing through his Appian Way banner. DiCaprio is also a producer on Live by Night, which Ben Affleck is prepping as his directorial follow-up to Argo and is based on Lehane’s novel.

Travis McGee would mark Lehane’s first film adaptation that isn’t based on one of his works (though he has written for the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire and Boardwalk Empire as well as ABC’s Castle). But Lehane would seem an ideal match for the late MacDonald’s works. Both authors have been hailed for elevating the mystery genre. MacDonald’s novel The Green Ripper won the National Book Award in 1980.

Deep Blue Good-by, published in 1978, marked the first of 21 novels featuring the self-described “salvage consultant” McGee and is seen by Fox as a potential franchise. The studio has been developing an adaptation since 2001 and the project has attracted names such as Oliver Stone and Gary Fleder.

Appian Way partners DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson-Killoran are producing the film alongside Amy Robinson and Peter Chernin. Dana Stevens and Kario Salem penned an earlier draft.

Best-selling author Lehane has become a go-to writer for A-list talent. His novels Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone were made into films by Clint Eastwood and Affleck, respectively. He wrote the screenplay based on his short story Animal Rescue, which is in production with a cast that includes Tom Hardy and Noomi Rapace.

He is repped by IPG’s Amy Schiffman.

He's 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....

DoubleD wrote:Book synopsis.

He's 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....

With Leo attached, and Lehane writing, I'm sold.

IWatchFilmsNotMovies wrote:

DoubleD wrote:Book synopsis.



With Leo attached, and Lehane writing, I'm sold.

You forgot the best part about it.

Dream-Xtractor wrote:

IWatchFilmsNotMovies wrote: You forgot the best part about it.

James Mangold Boarding Travis McGee Tale ‘The Deep Blue Good-By’

EXCLUSIVE: James Mangold is negotiating to direct The Deep Blue Good-Bye, the 1964 John D. MacDonald novel that kicked off series of mystery novels with character Travis McGee. This has long been eyed by Fox as the launch of a star-driven franchise based on the beach bum McGee, a forerunner of muscular solitary heroes like Jack Reacher and Spenser For Hire, helping (and romancing) damsels in distress as he kicks ass against the powerful.

The film was originally set as a star vehicle for Leonardo DiCaprio. That’s not going to happen now, as DiCaprio has plenty of work in front of him and this film, with a most recent script draft by Mystic River novelist Dennis Lehane, is certainly ready to go. DiCaprio and his Appian Way partner Jennifer Davisson-Killoran are producing with Amy Robinson and Chernin Entertainment. Previous script drafts were done by Dana Stevens and Kario Salem.

nolannolanchrischris wrote:Bale will be starring
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/chris ... 201139639/