Michael Keaton is set to star in CBS Films and Lionsgate’s adaptation of Vince Flynn’s best-selling novel series “American Assassin,” TheWrap has learned.
The thriller will be directed by Michael Cuesta from a screenplay by Stephen Schiff. Producers of the project are Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Nick Wechsler.
The film will be based on Flynn’s best-selling thriller novels featuring Cold War veteran Stan Hurley (Keaton). He is assigned to train a black ops recruit in the CIA when the pair is dispatched on a joint mission to stop an operative from starting World War III in the Middle East.
“American Assassin” is one of 14 novels set in the world of Mitch Rapp. All books have been on the New York Times best-seller list, with the three most recent one having been number one.
Keaton’s latest credits include “Spotlight,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and “Birdman.” His upcoming project is “The Founder,” in which he plays McDonald’s mogul Ray Croc.
He is repped by ICM Partners, Anonymous Content and Wendy Kirk at Ziffren Brittenham.