Back in 2004 Universal decided to pull the plug on the Brian Grazer-produced film titled American Gangster. With almost two years to think on it, Universal is now ready to give Gangster one last shot.
American Gangster
According to Variety, Universal will meet this week to discuss whether or not to finance American Gangster, a film set to star Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington.
If the film does get approved, it could start production as early as this summer.
The 2004 version of the film would have starred Washington and Benicio Del Toro before it got cancelled due to fears that the budget could go north of $100 million.
Since then the script has been worked on by Terry George (Hotel Rwanda) to help polish the story and bring budget concerns under control. Ridley Scott, who is now looking to direct American Gangster, has been working close with the script since in order to get the necessary approval from Universal.
The story for American Gangster revolves around a Harlem heroin kingpin who figured out a way to smuggle heroin in the coffins of American soldiers returning from the Vietnam War.
If Universal decides not to move forward with American Gangster it has already been suggested that there are a couple other studios willing to pick the film up.
You can see Denzel Washington in the upcoming film Inside Man.
Denzel Washington
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