Jake Gyllenhaal will reteam with “Life” director Daniel Espinosa on an indie “The Anarchists vs ISIS,” an adaptation of a Rolling Stone story about American volunteers who fought alongside Kurdish militia members in Syria.
Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker’s Ninestories production shingle have joined with Bold Films to option Seth Harp’s Rolling Stone article, with Espinosa set to direct and produce under his newly formed BOZI banner.
Bold Films’ Chairman Michel Litvak will also produce and CEO Gary Michael Walters will executive produce. Gyllenhaal is expected to star.
The fact-based story will follow a group of American volunteers, socialists and outcasts who join forces with the Kurdish militia known as the YPG to fight ISIS in Syria and establish an anarchist collective amid the rubble of war.
Marker said in a statement: “Jake and I are thrilled to partner with Daniel Espinosa on Seth Harp’s daring story. Thematically, we’re often attracted to material about the search for identity, especially in a world where it’s become easier to feel less and less connected. Seth’s story is about people who abandon everything that’s familiar as a means to connect in the most brutal of circumstances.”
Bold Films’ Chairman Michel Litvak added, “In a very short time under the leadership of Jake and Riva, Ninestories has become an incredibly exciting production company. Their vision for fresh and provocative material coupled with brilliant filmmakers like Daniel Espinosa aligns perfectly with Bold’s mandate.”
The deal was negotiated by Bloom Hergott on behalf of Ninestories and Gyllenhaal, by WME on behalf of Ninestories, Gyllenhaal and Espinosa and by UTA on behalf of Alex Jacobs at Elyse Cheney Associates for Seth Harp. Espinosa is repped by WME and Shelley Browning of Magnolia Entertainment.