Ron Howard's massive "Dark Tower" tent-pole project goes up in smoke and suddenly he's got a new film brewing. Go figure...
Warner Brothers has acquired the rights to Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven," with "Milk" screenwriter Dustin Lance Black on board to adapt the screenplay and Ron Howard directing, reported Deadline. Krauker's 2004 book tells the story of two murderous brothers acting on a directive from God. From the official synopsis:
At the core of his book is an appalling double murder committed by two Mormon Fundamentalist brothers, Ron and Dan Lafferty, who insist they received a revelation from God commanding them to kill their blameless victims. Beginning with a meticulously researched account of this "divinely inspired" crime, Krakauer constructs a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, savage violence, polygamy, and unyielding faith. Along the way, he uncovers a shadowy offshoot of America's fastest-growing religion, and raises provocative questions about the nature of religious belief.
Needless to say, the Church of Latter Day Saints didn't much care for the book, with church historian Richard E. Turley condemning the book as "a full-frontal assault on the veracity of the modern Church."
"Banner" will reunite Black and Grazer, who recently worked together on Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar Hoover biopic, "J. Edgar," starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Howard and Grazer continue to look for a home for their "Dark Tower" adaptation, and yesterday it was learned that "Law & Order: LA" writer will rework the script for the "Colossus: The Forbin Project" remake that Howard and Grazer had once planned to make with Will Smith.
