Screenwriter William Monahan is generally best remembered for penning the Oscar-winning screenplay of Martin Scorsese's The Departed, but the scribe behind such action-packed features as Kingdom of Heaven and Body of Lies branched out into directing in 2010 with his self-scripted drama London Boulevard. Regrettably for Monahan, the film was savaged by critics and made a meager $4 million worldwide. Nonetheless, Deadline reports that Monahan is getting a surprising second shot at the director's chair thanks to Atlas Independent.
This newly minted production company was formed by producer William Green under the behest of tent pole producer Charles Roven (The Dark Knight Rises, Man of Steel) as an offshoot of Atlas Entertainment. In the creation of Atlas Independent, Green was tasked with creating eye-catching cinema with budgets of $10 million or less.
Now, with Atlas Independent as his backer and Green by his side, Monahan will helm Mojave, a leanly budgeted crime thriller whose details are being closely guarded. However, while we have no plot specifics at present, we do know Monahan plans to shoot the feature this August in Southern California, so casting news should follow soon, and hopefully with it some aspects of Mojave's story.
In the mean time, keep an eye out for Atlas Independent's first effort, the dark comedy Revenge for Jolly!, which will make its world premiere on April 21st at the Tribeca Film Festival as part of the Cinemania program. Marking the feature debut of director Chadd Hardbold, this film stars Oscar Isaac (Sucker Punch) and Jolly writer Brian Pestos as two cousins seeking vengeance for their beloved—but sadly murdered--dog. Elijah Wood, Kristen Wiig, Adam Brody and Garret Dillahunt are also on board for this bizarre revenge tale.
