Michael Fassbender In Talks To Star In Danny Boyle's Art-Heist Thriller 'Trance'

Film Revealed As Remake Of British Telemovie; Scheduled For March 2013 Theatrical Release

Merely days after the surprise announcement of Danny Boyle's next directorial effort "Trance," comes word that Irish-German thespian Michael Fassbender is now in talks to star. While details were scarce initially the picture has now been revealed as the remake of a 2003 British telemovie of the same name written and directed by Joe Ahearne.

The "edgy art-heist thriller" will follow the story of an assistant at an auction house who masterminds a heist and teams up with a gang of thieves only to suffer a blow to the head and wake up with amnesia. As the only person who knew the location of the stolen painting, the assistant is then subjected to analysis from a hypnotist as the gang begin to suspect duplicity. Fassbender is eyeing the role of the shady gang leader who partners with the assistant.

No word yet on who'll be penning the script for Boyle (rumor has it Ahearne will be returning) but the project is apparently in the vein of the helmer's earlier works in "Shallow Grave" and "Trainspotting" -- both those films were scripted by John Hodge with the latter earning an Oscar nod for writing. Boyle and producing partner Christian Colson also look set to reunite with Fox Searchlight and Pathe for distribution.

Lensing will begin this September however Boyle won't start post-production until mid-2012 after he fulfills his and Stephen Daldry's commitments to the upcoming Summer Olympics. A March 2013 release is subsequently being eyed which also seemingly suggests that the film is more genre fare than an award season contender. That, of course, can change later down the track. The in-demand Fassbender is striking while his iron is still white hot, cutting a tear through Hollywood's top directorial talent with fierce precision. If he signs on board, by the time he works with Boyle in the fall, the actor will have already worked with Quentin Tarantino, David Cronenberg Steven Soderbergh, Ridley Scott, Matthew Vaughn and re-teamed with the man who helped put him on the map, British filmmaker Steve McQueen. [Variety/THR]