'Ronin' in from cold
Frankenheimer takes helm for UA pic
In the J.D. Zeik-scripted "Ronin," a post-Cold War group of CIA-type operatives from several countries team up for private duty. During a difficult job, the men and their morality, or lack of it, is revealed. The film will be produced by Frank Mancuso Jr. and Paul Kelmenson.
"It's a very good script, and the kind of movie I'd love to go see," Frankenheimer said. "The characters, both male and female, are terribly good at what they do, they just have no place to do it anymore. They're hired to pull off a job; get double crossed twice and have to get out of it. What I like is, it's a character-driven action picture, and I have done those before, with 'Black Sunday' and 'French Connection II.' It's not one of these CGI pictures, it's a film about people. It's not bigger than life, which I don't relate to that much."
Frankenheimer, who's repped by ICM's Ken Kamins, has won three straight best director Emmys for HBO's "Against the Wall" and "The Burning Season" and TNT's "Andersonville," and just wrapped his attempt at a fourth, the TNT Gary Sinise starrer "George Wallace."
"What made me want to make this movie is that it reminded me of films of an era that has long since passed that started with 'Manchurian Candidate,' these intricate suspense thrillers," Mancuso said. He's currently filming the "Species" sequel for MGM in Baltimore.
