Washington [US], March 1: Academy Award-winning actor Al Pacino is set to star in the upcoming hostage thriller ‘Dead Man’s Wire,’ directed by Academy Award nominee Gus Van Sant. The film is based on the true story of a gripping hostage situation that took place in 1977, which captivated the world.
The screenplay for ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ was written by Austin Kolodney, and the film already boasts an impressive ensemble cast. Alongside Pacino, the thriller features Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Myha’la, Cary Elwes, and Colman Domingo, all of whom have been previously announced.
The plot of ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ is based on the real-life events of February 8, 1977, when Anthony G “Tony” Kiritsis, a 44-year-old man, entered the office of Richard O. Hall, the president of Meridian Mortgage Company, and took him hostage. Armed with a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun wired to his own neck by a “dead man’s wire,” Tony demanded USD 5 million, immunity from charges, and a personal apology from the Hall family for allegedly cheating him out of money he believed was owed to him.
This high-stakes standoff will be brought to life on screen by Gus Van Sant, known for his previous works such as ‘Good Will Hunting’ and ‘Milk’. This marks the first collaboration between Pacino and Van Sant. Pacino, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in ‘Scent of a Woman’, most recently appeared in ‘Knox Goes Away’.
Pacino’s upcoming projects include ‘The Ritual’ directed by David Midell, ‘Killing Castro’ by Eif Rivera, ‘Hand of Dante’ by Julian Schnabel, ‘Billy Knight’ by Alec Griffin Roth, and ‘Easy Waltz’ by Nic Pizzolatto.
The film is being financed by Sipur Studios, Yo Productions, and Wrong Turn Productions, alongside previously announced financiers.