There are now officially two competing movies about the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013. 20th Century Fox already has “Boston Strong” in development with Daniel Espinosa (“Safe House”) directing. Now, CBS Films has announced “Patriot's Day” is in the works from screenwriter Matt Chapman (“Bridge of Spies”) and producers Scott Stuber, Mark Wahlberg, Dylan Clark, Stephen Levinson and Michael Radutzky.
Based on the personal account of Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, “Patriot's Day” is the first collaboration between “60 Minutes” and CBS Films and will feature information revealed in a report by Radutzky. The studio has also secured Davis' life rights to tell the story and Mark Wahlberg is likely on board to play him.
According to a release from CBS, “Commissioner Davis played an integral role in working with the FBI, Watertown Police Department, Boston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and local first responders to track, identify and apprehend the suspected bombers. Their tactics included the use of sophisticated identity technology and giving the historic order to put the city of Boston under lockdown as they rushed to apprehend the suspects. The story is envisioned as an intense thriller, spanning the five-day search up to the infamous siege where Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was pulled from a boat in Watertown.”
CBS Films president Terry Press added, “There is nothing more compelling than a real story populated by real heroes. The team that we have assembled for this project is determined to give audiences a very personal look at what occurred during the days when the eyes of the world were on the city of Boston and how a group of contemporary patriots faced this crisis.”
The project currently does not have a director publicly attached, but, like “Boston Strong,” “Patriot's Day” hopes to begin filming later this year.
Wahlberg, an Oscar nominee for “The Departed,” most recently appeared in “The Gambler.” His upcoming slate includes a supporting role in “Entourage” and reuniting with the talking teddy bear in “Ted 2.”