Josh Lucas has signed on for what will likely be a controversial role – he’ll play a character based on Daniel Pearl, the US journalist who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists.
It’ll take source material from French author Bernard-Henri Levi’s book Who Killed Daniel Pearl?, which saw Levy investigate Pearl’s disappearance and death, and the rumour that he had uncovered a link between Pakistani secret service agents and Al Qaeda. So as not to clash with widow Marianne Pearl’s own tome, the plot will fictionalise elements of Pearl’s life and turn Levy into an American newsman searching fro the truth.
The as-yet-untitled drama had been scheduled for The Last Samurai’s Ed Zwick to direct, but he’s gotten caught up working on The Blood Diamond. So Kip Williams (Door In The Floor) will take over calling the shots. He’s also re-writing the screenplay with original scripter Peter Landesman.