Universal have announced that Pierre Morel, who directed Liam Neeson's action rumble Taken, is to helm Pursuit, based on the early life of conflict photographer Jason Howe.
The self-taught Howe's recent work has been in Iraq, but the greater part of his early career was spent in South America: Chile, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and not least Colombia, where he fell in love with a woman who turned out to be an assassin. It's that story that will be the centre of the movie, according to Variety.
"I'm fascinated by the reportage in war zones," says Morel. "If I'd been courageous enough, I might have done that myself. There is the sentimental side of a man in love, and a journalist trying not to become involved in the story he is covering."
The producers are Jeffrey Weiner and Ben Smith, who control the Bourne franchise but are also keen to develop some original properties in what Variety have pegged as the "elevated action thriller" genre.
Taken may have been morally and politically reprehensible, but audiences were prepared enough to turn a blind eye and just enjoy the spectacle of Neeson ass kicking to make it the surprise hit of the Superbowl weekend.
Whether Morel is the man for the job, on what, in the right hands, could be a kind of romantic action Salvador, remains to be seen. The script isn't yet written. If it comes back in decent shape, with an international outlook that goes beyond knee-jerk, Morel's obvious technical action smarts might be put to some good use.
But for those who thoroughly enjoyed Taken's knee-jerking for the preposterous bollocks it was, take heart! Morel and Luc Besson are currently brainstorming a sequel...