“Real Steel” star Hugh Jackman has signed on for the Alcon Entertainment thriller “Prisoners,” to be directed by “Incendies” helmer Denis Villeneuve.
Written by Aaron Guzikowski (“Contraband”), “Prisoners” is about a small-town carpenter named Keller (Jackman) who turns to vigilantism after the police fail to find his kidnapped daughter and her friend. While running his own investigation, Keller clashes with the big city detective working on to the case.
Kosove and Johnson are producing, along with 8:38 Productions’ Kira Davis and Madhouse Entertainment’s Adam Kolbrenner. “We are ecstatic that Hugh will take the lead in this exciting thriller,” said Johnson and Kosove in a press release.
“We can think of no better ‘Keller’ — an everyman who rises to an occasion most of us could not imagine possible. Denis’s rare directing gifts are superbly matched to this material, that is both challenging and explores complex themes in a commercially appealing narrative.”
Jackman will step in front of the camera for “Prisoners” after he finishes shooting the long-delayed “The Wolverine.” Alcon is planning to release it November 2013 through Warner Bros. Meanwhile, Jackman will soon be seen opposite Anne Hathaway in the big screen musical version of Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables.”