The long, long, long-in-the-works international crime dramaTriple Frontieris back on yet again, now with a previously departed cast member once again in the mix. This is a project that originated back in 2010 as a potential follow-up film from Oscar-winningThe Hurt LockerdirectorKathryn Bigelowand that film’s writerMark Boal, but it has been through multiple permutations since then. Bigelow and Boal moved on to other projects afterParamount balked at the hefty price tagforTriple Frontier, and in 2015All Is LostandA Most Violent YeardirectorJ.C. Chandorcircled the directors’ chair withJohnny Depppotentially starring.
That permutation didn’t pan out, but in January 2017 it appeared the film had new life withChanning TatumandTom Hardyeyeing starring roles. That lasted about three months, after which Tatum, Hardy, and Paramount Picturesall dropped outand the film fell apart. But hope springs eternal, and in May it was reported that Netflix might come to the rescue of Chandor’s version of the film withBen AffleckandCasey Affleckeyed to star. Then Ben Affleck dropped out in July and it was back to the drawing board, asMark Wahlbergwas eyed as a potential replacement.
Which brings us to today. NowTHRreports that Ben Affleck is back in negotiations to star in the now-untitled drama withOscar Isaacalso in talks, asCharlie Hunnam,Garrett Hedlund,Pedro Pascal, andAdia Arjoaall set to star for what is now a Netflix original movie.
The original title refers to the border zone between Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil which is known as one of the world’s largest havens for organized crime. Chandor rewrote Boal’s drafts himself, and the story now centers on five friends whose loyalties are tested when they reunite to take down a South American drug lord, unleashing a chain of unintended consequences.
Man of SteelandAmerican HustleproducerCharles Rovenis producing the project, and it’ll mark Chandor’s long-awaited follow-up toA Most Violent Year. The filmmaker had been attached toDeepwater Horizonbut left the project pretty late in the game over creative differences with the studio—his take was apparently too political for their tastes. He’s a talented filmmaker and I’m mighty curious to see what he brings to this long-developing project.
As for Affleck, he may or may not be reprising his role as Batman inThe Batmanbut he hasn’t yet firmed up his next starring role, although he’s attached to star in a developingThe Accountantsequel. Isaac, meanwhile, is due back to filmStar Wars: Episode IXthis summer.
