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Russell Crowe Might Direct & Star in a 70's Crime Drama Titled '77'

by Alex Billington
April 25, 2011
Source: Deadline

He's not just an actor anymore. Deadline is reporting that Russell Crowe is "seriously considering" taking on a project called 77 that he would not only star in, but would direct as his feature directorial debut. 77 focuses on two stories from 1974: the unsolved murder of an LAPD officer, and the nationally televised shootout in South Central L.A. between the Symbionese Liberation Army and the LAPD, where 50,000 rounds of gunfire were exchanged. The events will be seen through the eyes of two police partners, one black and one white. He hasn't exactly signed on yet, but is waiting for a rewrite of the screenplay first. Read on!

77 is based on a story by L.A. Confidential writer James Ellroy. The screenplay was adapted by David Matthews. Crowe has been looking at getting into directing for a little while, as he's been attached to a project called Bra Boys before, based on the surfing doc, as well as an Australia WWII drama called The Long Green Shore. Deadline says that Crowe is "awaiting a rewrite of the 77 script to see if this one will be the charm." It sounds like it has a unique angle to the concept beyond just telling another crime story in LA. Crime dramas seem to be on the rise again with Ruben Fleischer doing Gangster Squad over at WB. This already sounds like a project that could turn out great, and I am curious if Crowe can actually direct as well.

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