Par loads 'Shooter'
Wahlberg to star in Fuqua-helmed drama
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Project is based on "Point of Impact," a novel by Stephen Hunter previously developed as a star vehicle for Keanu Reeves and, before that, Robert Redford.
Wahlberg will play a master sniper lured out of a reclusive existence to prevent an assassination. He's double-crossed and hunted for a murder.
Thesp, who most recently made "Four Brothers" and "The Italian Job" for Paramount, had been in talks for months on a deal to topline two pictures. He's also attached to the terrorist drama "By Any Means Necessary," with Fuqua.
Progress dragged on with "Necessary," and there were availability problems with co-star Al Pacino and scribe Paul Attanasio, who was expected to do a rewrite. A decision was made to instead move forward with "Shooter," which had a Jonathan Lemkin script that was ready to shoot.
Fuqua, who by then had developed a good relationship with Wahlberg and was itching to get into production on a feature, boarded the other project with him.
It is unclear which pic Wahlberg will make next. He just wrapped the Disney gridiron movie "Invincible" and is about to begin shooting the James Gray-directed "We Own the Night" with Joaquin Phoenix. In addition, Par's likely to tap Wahlberg to go with its "Italian Job" sequel, "The Brazilian Job."
Fuqua is also attached to New Line's Duke Ellington pic, "The Jazz Ambassadors."
Par prexy of production Brad Weston is overseeing "Shooter."
