20th Century Fox has picked up the rights to author Don Winslow’s latest novelThe Cartelfor amovie adaptationwhich hasRidley Scottattached to direct, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.Deadlinealso reports that the studio is eyeingLeonardo DiCaprioto star. The studio also picked up the rights to Don Winslow’s 2006 novelThe Power of the Dog, which chronicles the start of a war between a DEA agent and a drug dealer that continues inThe Cartel.
The Cartelhas been receiving rave reviews since it was published in June, detailing the massive war waged between DEA agent Art Keller and Mexican drug cartel kingpin Adan Barrera. In the first novel,The Power of the Dog, Keller had befriended the up and comingdrug dealerBarrera, before a feud between them begins, leading to Barrera brutally murdering Keller’s partner. The Cartel takes place between the years 2004 and 2014, when the bloody feud re-ignites after Barrera escapes from prison, determined to build his empire from scratch.
IfLeonardo DiCapriodoes sign on, he will play Art Keller, although it isn’t clear if the actor has started negotiations yet. Shane Salerno, Don Winslow’s creative partner who wrote theSavagesbased on the author’s book, has signed on to writeThe Cartelscript. 20th Century Fox reportedly shelled out nearly $6 million for the book rights toThe CartelandThe Power of the Dog, along with the screenwriting fees.
While there were several other studios and producers courting this project, Don Winslow and Shane Salerno sided with 20th Century Fox, because ofRidley Scott’s commitment to direct.Leonardo DiCapriowas also one of the players eyeing to acquire the book, through his Appian Way production company, and if he signs on to star, it’s possible that he could come aboard as a producer as well. The actor-producer is also working with both Don Winslow and Shane Salerno on an adaptation of the author’s novelSatori, which he may also star in.
Ridley Scottis currently putting the finishing touches on hissci-fimovieThe Martian, which hits theaters this November. The director also has a number of projects in development, such asPrometheus 2, so it isn’t known ifThe Cartelwill be up next for him.Leonardo DiCapriowill next be seen inThe Revenant, opening in theaters on Christmas Day.
