Following his strong dramatic turn on HBO’s “True Detective,” Vince Vaughn is now looking at another gritty physical role with the action pic “Brawl in Cell Block 99.”
Sources confirm to Variety that “Bone Tomahawk” helmer S. Craig Zahler will direct.
The story centers on a former boxer whose life is crumbling: he loses his job as an auto mechanic and his troubled marriage is about to expire. At this crossroads in his life, he feels that he has no better option than to work for an old buddy as a drug courier. This vocation improves his situation until the day he finds himself in a gunfight between a group of police officers and his own ruthless allies. When the smoke clears, the man finds himself in prison in a no-win situation as his enemies force him to commit acts of violence that turn the place into a savage battleground.
The film is set to begin production at the end of summer.
The film will be produced by Caliber Media’s Dallas Sonnier and Jack Heller.
XYZ Films is executive producing and will also handle worldwide sales on the film, which will begin at the upcoming Cannes film makret. WME Global will rep North American rights.
The project continues Vaughn’s dramatic trajectory with roles that include “True Detective” and the Mel Gibson WWII pic “Hacksaw Ridge” which also stars Andrew Garfield.
Vaughn is repped by WME Entertainment and Jackoway Tyerman. Zahler is repped by UTA, Caliber Media and Ziffren Brittenham. The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news.
