Since the 1930s Attica Correctional Facility in New York has housed some of the biggest, baddest criminals to ever rattle cages in this country: Son of Sam David Berkowitz, notorious bank robber Willie Sutton, and Mark David Chapman, the man who murdered John Lennon, just to name a few. Attica is also the site of one of the most violent prison riots America has ever seen, resulting in 39 deaths.

Surprisingly enough, film adaptations of the brutal incident have so far been limited to TV movies and a chant from Al Pacino in 1975’s Dog Day Afternoon. But Deadline is reporting that Doug Liman would like to change that. Liman’s father Arthur co-authored the report describing the events of the Attica riot while serving as chief counsel to the NY State Commission on Attica Prison, so for Doug there's a personal connection. According to Liman his father’s report "reads like a page turner," full of insider accounts of the four day prison takeover from both guards and inmates alike.

This project already sounds like it has the makings of something great. Liman proved he can mix action and suspense with The Bourne Identity, and together with Precious screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher, we should be in for a smart, taut thriller. More news on this as it becomes available.