It is confirmed!
Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to the celebrated, yet box-office disappointment, On the Job.
The question here is will the new director/screenwriter/producer Baltasar Kolmakur give parts to the Filipino leads, say Gerald Anderson and Piolo Pascual; the way Iza Calzado scored a Hollywood deal when the Yam Lamares' film Sigaw was remade in the US (the Echo).
Hmm, we can only wait and see. after all, Kolmakur did say that he had been developing the stiry even before OTJ begun production Tsk! Tsk!
To read more: http://variety.com/2013/film/news/universal-on-the-job-scott-stuber-baltasar-kormakur-1200713170/
Universal Pictures has optioned the rights to crime thriller “On the Job,” withBaltasar Kormakur on board to write and direct and Scott Stuber on board to produce.
Kormakur will also produce for his RVK Studios while Stuber will produce through his Universal-based Bluegrass Films banner. XYZ Films partners Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer and Aram Tertzakian will also produce.
While some inspiration for the concept came from Erik Matti’s Filipino movie “On The Job,” Kormakur actually had already begun developing a project based on the same events as “On The Job” with XYZ Films before the Filipino film began production.
The pic is based on the real-life scandal where prison inmates were temporarily released from prison to work as contract killers on behalf of politicians and high ranking military officials.
XYZ Films handled worldwide sales and the film is now in release through Well Go USA in North America. It premiered at Cannes this year in the Directors Fortnight.
The remake and Kormakur’s involvement were reported this summer, but at the time the film didn’t have a studio to call home.
Nick Nesbitt, who brought the project in to Bluegrass Films, will oversee the project. Kyle Franke will oversee on behalf of XYZ Films while Universal’s vice president of production Anikah McLaren will oversee on behalf of the studio.
Universal and Kormakur have already seen good returns with “Contraband” and “2 Guns” and teaming him up with one of the studio’s top producers could lead to even bigger results.
Kormakur has been busy developing several projects including the Working Title pic “Everest” starring Josh Brolin and Jake Gyllenhaal. Stuber has seen big results on the comedy end with “Ted” and “Identity Thief.”
His action thriller “Safe House,” which could have similarities to “On the Job,” also hit big making more than $200 million worldwide.
XYZ Films and CAA co-brokered the underlying rights deal with Universal on behalf of the producers of On The Job.
Kormakur is repped by WME and attorney Peter Nelson. Matti is represented by CAA and attorney Chris Spicer.
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