2 Guns helmer Baltasar Kormakur has lined up a new project in Universal Pictures’ On the Job. Variety reports that the film will be a loose remake of Erik Mattis recently released true crime drama of the same name. That film is officially described as follows:
The cycle of life and death and scheming at its highest level are on full display in “On the Job,” a gritty crime thriller that delves deep into the inner-workings of the ingenious hitmen, honest cops, ambitious federal agents, and shady government officials. The film is based on the true scandal that rocked the Philippines where prison inmates were contracted by high-level politicians to temporarily leave jail and conduct a series of assassinations before returning to incarceration.
After a prominent drug dealer is murdered by two criminals Tatang (Joel Torre) and Daniel (Gerald Anderson) Sergeant Acosta (Joey Marquez) takes the lead on the investigation, but their trail goes cold almost immediately. It might have to do with the fact that Tatang and Daniel get shuttled right back into prison after their killing spree and its the last place the cops are looking; the perfect cover-up.
Federal agent Francis (Piolo Pascual) is called in to oversee the case by Manrique (Michael De Mesa), his controlling father-in-law and Congressman, on the orders of General Pacheco (Leo Martinez), but who is really pulling the strings? Not trusting his superiors to find the right leads, Acosta continues to stay involved and starts to show Francis just how immoral his orders are. Now caught in a web of deceit and corruption, Acosta and Francis are on a collision course with the government officials who will do anything to silence them and no one is safe.
Kormakur, the trade reports, was previously planning his own version of the story, leading to Universal securing the remake rights. He’s planning on writing, directing and producing the new film. Scott Stuber is also attached to produce.
