After seeing the film move from Sony Pictures to Paramount, the Russell Crowe-starring thriller American Son is getting back on track as it has cast Golden Globe nominee Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk) to co-star in the film, according to Deadline.
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Based on Jacques Audiard’s 2009 French film A Prophet, the story follows a man (James) as he falls under the control of a ruthless mobster (Crowe) and helps build a multiracial crime syndicate, takes down his mentor and earns a place for his crew alongside the Italian and Russian mafias.
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The new film is set to be directed by Andrew “Rapman” Onwubolu, who previously worked with Paramount Pictures on his feature directorial debut Blue Story, which hit theaters in his home country of the United Kingdom late last year and digital platforms in the US earlier this year to rave reviews from critics. Rapman is directing the film on a screenplay by acclaimed novelist/screenwriter Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, The Outsider), while Neal H. Moritz and Toby Jaffe are attached to produce the project via Original Film.
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After starring in supporting roles in the sports drama When the Game Stands Tall and Oscar-nominated historical drama Selma, James broke out with his starring role in Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk and the Amazon psychological thriller Homecoming, for which he earned his Golden Golden nomination. He was most recently seen in the Quibi crime drama #FreeRayshawn, for which he is nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.
(Photo Credit: Steven Ferdman/WireImage)
