New Project - 'The Associate'?

[ehs_wildcats]

Let me preface this news by saying, Tracking Board is considered infamously unreliable at this point. I don't want to be a Debbie Downer but I wasn't even going to post this story unless a trade confirmed it. But since their post was unlocked and everyone is freaking out about it, I felt like putting this out there: please don't count chickens

Comments

Interesting

[zacsfag]

This actually sounds really cool! I think this has a potentially dark element to it that intrigues me. I read an article on People that said Zac was focused on reading scripts. Who knows? Maybe this is one of them.

[countessm3]

Happy Birthday Cady! All this Zac drama was going on so I forgot it. Sorry.

[jeezbee]

Yeah, as I said last night, I'm not taking this as a done deal. I can totally see him meeting for it and being interested (like many, many other things we rarely hear about and in the end don't come through) but idk if this has closed (yet). I'm waiting to hear from a reliable source before I take it serious.

It seems odd to entirely discard a script from William Monahan and there is also the question about the rights since Paramount who had them last isn't mentioned anywhere.

Adrian Lyne would have been interesting as director. The producers seem ok, so that's a good thing. And if they are a developing it outside the studio system to just go there later that might be more effective as well. But even if we get confirmation, this will take a few years until it happens, if at all.

That said, it would be a good signal and the project has potential, so I would absolutely be happy about it. But.... as Cady said, it's really just a rumor at this point.

[jeezbee]

In a pleasant surprise, Tracking-Board was not premature like they usually are nowadays and THR confirmed it.

It's great. Still a long, long way off but just good to hear about a new development project. I hope the fact that it's based on a popular novel helps the development.

I think it would be even better if they already had a director attached when they set it up but that's just me nitpicking now.

[kleth]

"Well, truthfully this package with Efron is most likely enough"

I agree about the package, but the "with Efron" part is dreaming. I'm just waiting for the day when attaching Zac to a project will get it snapped up by the studios or a major distributor.

At least this is the kind of project he *should* be getting involved in - you know, grown-up stuff.

But I'm concerned about the six years this project has been piddling around in Movieland with constant changes and no progress. Makes me thing there is a flaw in it somewhere. Maybe that's why they discarded the existing script.

Still, we can pray. This is a mundane drama based on a best-selling novel (no vampires or wizards). If actually made and successful, this would completely change Zac's industry standing and popular appeal.

[kleth]

"But I'm concerned about the six years this project has been piddling around in Movieland with constant changes and no progress."

To comment on my own comment, this could be like the new team is just picking up road kill on the highway.

[jeezbee]

I guess Angelina Jolie's Unbroken which people think is vying for awards is totally doomed then because it was in development for 50+ years.

I think I've said it in the past, this means nothing. Not for the likelihood of happening nor for the quality of the project. Projects going through multiple development cycles is the most normal thing.

[kleth]

I didn't say it was doomed. I know many successful films have been in development for years, even more than a decade. But these are usually passion projects of a determined producer, director, or actor. I hope this becomes Zac's passion project and he carries it to a triumphal conclusion. But I'm worried that this is the third team to make the attempt in just six years, and they're back to the start line with a new script.