Nic Pizzolatto has recently made a name for himself as creator, writer, showrunner and executive producer of the already-lauded HBO series True Detective, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. That success has sparked renewed interest in his back catalogue as an author, leading to the news that his first novel, 2010's Galveston, is now about to be filmed. Matthias Schoenaerts (Rust & Bone) will star, and Janus Metz (Danish war documentary Armadillo) will direct.
A noirish crime thriller, Galveston centres on New Orleans hitman Roy Cady, diagnosed with lung cancer at 40. Before the cancer can do him in, however, he has more pressing concerns in the form of his mobster boss, who has decided to remove him from the business - and the world - via a set-up.
Turning the tables, he goes on the run having rescued teenage hooker Raquel "Rocky" Arceneaux. He's persuaded to pick up her baby sister Tiffany, and with his new wards in tow, heads to his titular hometown to scheme revenge and redemption.
Critics have compared Pizzolatto's sparse narrative to the likes of Jim Thompson and Cormac McCarthy. The author has adapted the novel to screenplay form himself.
Schoenaerts, obviously enough, will play Roy, with casting now urgently underway for his female co-lead Rocky. Jean Doumanian and Patrick Daly (August: Osage County) are producing, and shooting is set to start in the spring.