Jake Gyllenhaal is reteaming with director Denis Villeneuve on an adaptation of the Jo Nesbo crime novel “The Son,” TheWrap has learned.
The actor is the creative force behind the project, which he plans to produce through his Nine Stories production company and will likely taking a major role. The film will be financed by Bold Films (“Nightcrawler”) in a first-look deal.
This would mark the third time Gyllenhaal has worked with the “Sicario” director, following their past collaborations on “Enemy” and “Prisoners.”
The story traces the life of wrestler Sonny Lofthus and his downward spiral following his father’s suicide.
The fictional character has spent 12 years in prison and addicted to heroin. After learning hidden secrets about his father’s death, Sonny escapes to hunt down the people who wrongfully put him behind bars.
Riva Marker from Nine Stories and Bold’s Michel Litvak are also producing. Bold’s Gary Michael Walters will executive produce with Jo Nesbo and Niclas Salomonsson.
Other projects in development at Nine Stories include the story of Lee Yopp, a former football coach who became a theater director, as originally told on NPR’s “This American Life.”
Also in development is Antoine Fuqua‘s drug cartel drama “The Man Who Made It Snow,” starring Gyllenhaal as a Jewish hotel engineer who helped Pablo Escobar rise to kingpin status.
Gyllenhaal’s recent producing credits include Dan Gilroy‘s “Nightcrawler,” David Ayer‘s “End of Watch,” and the upcoming “Stronger.” An Oscar-nominated actor, he will begin shooting Bong Joon Ho’s “Okja” and Daniel Espinosa‘s “Life” later this year.