Jeremy Renner To Star In True Story Thriller 'Kill The Messenger'

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by Kevin Jagernauth
January 31, 2013 6:09 PM
12 Comments

Jeremy Renner had an interesting 2012. He featured in two major franchise movies -- "The Avengers" and "The Bourne Legacy" -- yet didn't seem to get much of a bump from either. And while "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" opened at number one last weekend, it's not a movie anyone involved is going to be proudly touting. However, 2013 may finally see him live up to that pair of Oscar nominations. He has a role in James Gray's period drama "Lowlife," and he's getting ready to shoot David O. Russell's Abscam project alongside Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Amy Adams, and now he's lined up another project that is also very promising.

The actor has signed to star in "Kill The Messenger," a long developing movie penned by Peter Landesman ("Parkland") and set to be directed by Michael Cuesta ("Homeland," "Dexter"). And it certainly seems right up the alley of the helmer. Based on the books "Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion" by Gary Webb and Nick Schou’s "Kill the Messenger: How the CIA’s Crack-Cocaine Controversy Destroyed Journalist Gary Webb," the film will tell the true story of the reporter who detailed the CIA's connection to the crack cocaine trade, only to be smeared as a result, losing his job, falling into depression, eventually leading to his suicide. And you thought "Zero Dark Thirty" was controversial.

The movie will head to the Berlin Film Market for buyers, and production will begin this summer. It sounds like a fascinating story, and some great material that doesn't require Renner to act opposite CGI or spend weeks on action sequences. Here's hoping it's another in what looks to be a string of strong movies. [Deadline]

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12 Comments

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j bone | February 1, 2013 10:49 AMReply

renner and michael cuesta worked together before on the very underated 12 and holding
Minnie | February 1, 2013 8:59 AMReply

He's a sellout. I can't believe I was stupid enough to pay actual MONEY for Hansel & Gretel. I'm done.
Ur mom | January 31, 2013 11:24 PMReply

I think he should stick to serious films. He was great in The Hurt Locker, The Town and he recently signed up on a film of the director of "Silver Linings Playbook"/"The Fighter.".
This sounds really interesting and I feel pretty confident about this one.
tommybahama | January 31, 2013 9:27 PMReply

wow looks pretty good
Marcus Rees | January 31, 2013 7:40 PMReply

He got no bump because he was the least interesting thing in Avengers and Bourne Legacy and H&G were both trash that padded his pocket at the expense of the audience.
Juliette | February 1, 2013 11:38 AM

I am a school teacher and a realist. I cannot be forced to spend my money and there are enough reviews out there to inform my choices. The simple fact is that seeing these more commercial films lead me to watch some of his older films, I enjoyed those more and I am now looking forward to the smaller films he has lined up. What is the problem?
Marcus rees | February 1, 2013 11:07 AM

Juliette, you talk top like an agent who's getting a percentage rather than a fan who's getting the shaft.
Juliette | February 1, 2013 1:18 AM

I think you miss the point. He has raised his profile to the point where the films he cares about have a good chance of getting made and distributed. I might not not have liked all his recent films, but he has got my attention.
lee | January 31, 2013 7:16 PMReply

All i got to say is they better make this good and not fuck it up .
Marcus Rees | February 1, 2013 4:49 PM

He owes me 20 bucks and four hours I will never get back. He has got my attention too - as somebody who has ripped me off - twice in a row!
kingslayer | January 31, 2013 7:12 PMReply

sounds promising
dom | January 31, 2013 6:47 PMReply

i am a big renner fan, it's good that he is getting back to smaller more interesting work