Wind Dancer shines on 'Lightening'

Howard Blum book heads to bigscreen

By DAVE MCNARY

Wind Dancer Films is developing an adaptation of Howard Blum's recently published "American Lightning: Terror, Mystery, the Birth of Hollywood, and the Crime of the Century."

Wind Dancer's Matt Williams, David McFadzean and Judd Payne will produce. The company purchased the rights after Payne read Blum's Vanity Fair piece titled "American Dynamite," a teaser to the book.

"Lightning" follows the true story of the 1910 terrorist bombings of the Los Angeles Times that killed 20 people and were part of a bungled homegrown assault on 100 American cities. Its aftermath included a battle between William J. Burns -- considered America's top detective -- and crusading lawyer Clarence Darrow to uncover the violent truth behind the bombings.

Blum also penned nonfiction books "The Brigade" and "The Gold of Exodus." Miramax purchased feature rights to "The Brigade."

Williams and McFadzean created "Home Improvement" and produced "What Women Want." Payne recently produced David O. Russell's "Nailed" and "Passengers."