Beacon elects a helmer for politico pic
Lieberman to produce 'Shadow' with Bernstein
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The film concerns a U.S. president who survives an assassination attempt and comes to wonder whether the people around him were somehow involved. Story bears parallels to "The Manchurian Candidate," but presents a proactive president like Beacon did in the Wolfgang Petersen-directed hit "Air Force One," which essentially turned the commander-in-chief (Harrison Ford) into an action hero.
Mostow-Lieberman partner Hal Lieberman will produce with Beacon chairman Armyan Bernstein. Universal will distribute domestically, with Beacon hoping to land a major male star to play the prexy.
Scripter Gordon recently teamed with Bernstein to write "The Hurricane" and also "Two Guys on the Job," a cop drama that Kevin Costner and director Ron Shelton are eyeing for production after the actors strike is either settled or averted.
"Shadow Government" is also being eyed for a later production start. Mostow will oversee a rewrite that will be done by Michael Ferris and John Brancato, whose past work includes the cat-and-mouse thrillers "The Game" and "The Net."
Mostow was chosen for the way he ramped up the tension in tightly plotted thrillers "Breakdown" and "U-571," the WWII sub thriller for Universal. The marriage of Mostow-Lieberman and Beacon was an easy one, given that Mostow-Lieberman is based on the U lot and the studio is trying hard to keep the director in the fold.
Suzann Ellis, Beacon senior vice president of development and production, will oversee the project.
