As callous or controversial as it might seem, tragedy often makes for compelling cinema. And it appears that Hollywood is wasting no time in tackling one of America’s most recent tragedies: the infamous Boston marathon bombing.
THR reports that there are currently several projects about the real life attack, which left three people dead and 260 others injured. The first of those projects is entitled Stronger and indie-turned-Hollywood director David Gordon Green has signed on to direct.
Stronger will follow the story and is based on the book of one survivor, Jeff Bauman, who tragically lost both his legs in the attack. Bauman was reportedly waiting at the finish line of the marathon for his girlfriend when the bombs went off. In his book he relayed his terrifying story as well his experiences being a key witness against one of the bombers.
John Pollono wrote the script for the adaptation; he’s an actor who has appeared in the likes of Mad City and Masters of Sex and wrote a video release entitled Sex & Marriage a couple of years back. The project has some heavyweight producing talent behind it including The Fighter trio David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Scott Silver.
As for Green, he is certainly one of the industry’s most diverse directors. He made his name is small-scale indie fare like George Washington and All the Real Girls before hitting it big time with the likes of Pineapple Express, Your Highness (urgh) and The Sitter (urgh even more).
But he’s not all just about brash Hollywood comedies now either, with his last two films being low-key character comedy Prince Avalanche, with Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch, and gritty drama Joe, with Nicolas Cage. Stronger is another eclectic step for Green and he seems like the sort of director who could handle the sensitive subject with both the tact and honesty that it deserves. Here’s hoping.
Source: THR