Jeremy Renner Developing And Planning To Star In Steve McQueen Biopic
Jeremy Renneris a machine. He’s leaping fromMission: ImpossibletoHansel & GreteltoThe Avengersand then likely toThe Bourne Legacy, and at some point will squeeze in voice work for the fourthIce Agefilm. Got to take the big opportunies while they’re around, and The Hurt Locker created them left and right.
But he’s taking control of the more distant future of his career by forming a production company, The Combine, to develop and produce projects. The first one will be scripted byTwo LoversandWe Own the Nightwriter/directorJames Gray, and will be a biopic of first-generation action movie star Steve McQueen. Jeremy Renner will play the central role himself.
THRhas the report, saying that the script will be based on two books about the actor:Portrait of an American RebelandThe Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon, both byMarshall Terrill. The film is intended as the feature debut of commercial and music video directorIvan Zacharias.
Steve McQueen, the ‘King of Cool’ was the highest-paid star in the world by the mid-’70s, and essentially defined the template for the action movie star with his mix of anti-hero, rugged loner and real-world charisma. He was a volatile personality and daredevil who liked to perform his own stunts and was an avid car and motorcycle racer. Jeremy Renner might be as close to a perfect fit to capture his personality as we’re likely to see in this generation; whether a Steve McQueen biopic is really the best idea remains to be seen.
Here are a few ads directed by planned director Ivan Zacharias; the third one is probably the best indicator of his suitability for the Steve McQueen film.
