Actors Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio are in talks to co-star in a new spy thriller directed by Ridley Scott. The story, based on the novel Body of Lies by David Ignatius, is about a journalist injured during the Iraq war who is hired by the CIA to track down an Al Qaeda leader in Jordan. The journalist, played by DiCaprio, plans to subvert Jordinian intelligence results, but his plans awry and results in a life threatening situation.
The last time these two actors tag teamed up for a movie was twelve years ago on the set of The Quick and the Dead. The script is penned by William Monahan of The Departed.
It seems Hollywood is at a loss for original screenplays. Most films announced this year have been either novel or comic book adaptations. But, while 2008 may be the year of the adaptation, 2007 has shaped up to be the year of the sequel. In May, we saw three different third sequel movies (Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, Spider-Man). June started off with the second installment of the Fantastic Four series, and will close out with Live Free or Die Hard. And July brings us the fifth Harry Potter sequel, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which also happens to be another book adaptation.
Pixar seems to be the only studio coming out with original concepts.
