Denzel Washington Circling ‘Inner City’, From ‘Nightcrawler’ Director Dan Gilroy
Has anyone else been anxiously awaiting the news ofDan Gilroy’s sophomore effort as a filmmaker? The screenwriter, who wroteTwo for the Moneyand worked on the script for Tarsem’sThe Fall, made his directorial debut withNightcrawler, a darkly funny thriller that feels made by an old pro behind the camera. After the critical and financial success of his first feature, there was no immediate news about a follow-up project, but he may next directInner City, a drama possibly starringDenzel Washington.
Below, learn more about the potential Dan Gilroy Denzel Washington project.
Varietyreports Gilroy wrote and will direct the legal drama. The outlet describes the project as a character study akin to Sydney Lumet’sThe Verdict, in which Paul Newman gave a heartbreaking and moving performance as burnt out, ambulance chasing attorney who receives a second chance in the form of a sensitive case. Variety doesn’t have too much information on whatInner Cityis about, but they wrote Denzel Washington might play a lawyer dealing with serious changes at his law firm.
The actor is Gilroy’s number one pick for the role. Washington reportedly didn’t want to commit to any projects until after shootingFences,an adaptationof August Wilson’s play and the first feature he has directed in almost a decade. After principal photography was completed, Washington began considering his options, which includes Gilroy’sInner City, J.C. Chandor’s (A Most Violent Year)Triple Frontier, and probably plenty of other offers. He hasn’t committed yet toInner City.
Apparently, the project is already drawing a lot of attention from prominent distributors. Netflix, for example, is interested inInner City, but the script won’t be sent out until after Labor Day. Variety’s sources tell them, after a lackluster summer for sequels, some studios are keeping a serious eye on this original project, and that a huge sale is expected.
Inner Citywill be produced by someone who’s collaborated with the Gilroy family many times,Jennifer Fox. She producedNightcrawler,Michael Clayton, andDuplicity, in addition toWe Need to Talk About Kevin,The Informant, and some other great films. As for Denzel Washington, we’ll soon see him in Antoine Fuqua’sThe Magnificent Sevenremake, which will have its premiere at next month’s Toronto International Film Festival. Then the actor will shoot hisfirst sequel,The Equalizer 2.
