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Frank Darabont Becoming a Law Abiding Citizen Next

by Alex Billington
May 20, 2008

After impressing everyone again last year with The Mist, director Frank Darabont is already gearing up for his next film. Titled Law Abiding Citizen, the story centers on a criminal mastermind who controls a city from the confines of his prison cell. Screen Daily reports that the film is currently selling its international rights in Cannes and is already slated to start shooting on August 18th in Detroit. This means Darabont's adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 has put on hold at least until 2009, which seemed to be where it was headed when the project suffered the loss of Tom Hanks. As for Law Abiding Citizen, Gerard Butler has already been cast as the prosecutor who stands in the way of the criminal's control.

The original screenplay for Law Abiding Citizen was written by Kurt Wimmer, of Sphere, Equilibrium, The Recruit, and Street Kings. The project is said to be budgeted in the low $40 million range, which is well above the $18 million that it cost to make The Mist. Lucas Foster (Man on Fire, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Street Kings) and Alan Siegel are producing.

I'm always appreciative of anything Gerard Butler is cast in, but what this film will really come down to is who gets cast as the criminal. If Darabont doesn't secure an absolutely brilliant actor that can hold his own far better than Butler, then unfortunately this won't succeed. Even Thomas Jane from The Mist won't due, it really needs to be someone up there on the same level as Anthony Hopkins. I really love the idea for this, I'm just concerned that Darabont won't due the greatest job. However, he did make The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, two other incredible prison films, so maybe I'm just jumping the gun? Is Frank Darabont the right one to direct this film?

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Katie S.

When it comes to prison movies, Darabont is KING! Gerard Butler isn't that shabby either and could probably be the killer. Terry O'Quinn would be awesome and if anyone saw the original Stepfather, they'd know that he was totally evil. Gary Oldman would be the best choice or someone who plays against usual hype like Ray Romano being evil. The film has a really cool My Space page at http://www.myspace.com/law_abiding_citizen that looks like they are going with the pyscho theme. Maybe they'll take all our suggestions.
M

I agree - gerry is a great actor but they have to get the right calibre of actor as the criminal mastermind. my choice is Philip Seymour Hoffmann
M.L.

Good suggestions. I'd rather see someone not everyone expects, but can bring to the role a huge depth of character. I'd prefer underrated talents of an actor like Joaquin Phoenix or Val Kilmer.
L

Billington... The fact that you question Darabont's talent is ridiculous... I notice you have this passive aggressive way of writing at times. Where you sometimes contradict yourself...
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Good choice.
avoidz

I'd be interested to read Frank Darabont's Indiana Jones script that George Lucas rejected...
ricardo rodriguez

is there a way to get a hold of darabont's draft
James Lamont

Darabont's draft of Indiana Jones ISN'T in the public domain, because Frank doesn't want to ruin his friendship with Spielberg by realeasing it, plus he doesn't have permission to release it in the first place (ie: he doesn't own the copyright, the studio do).