Justin Kurzel, who made his directorial debut with the crime drama The Snowtown Murders, has been focusing on his next film, Our Kind of Traitor, an adaptation of John Le Carré’s novel that goes by the same title. A couple of weeks ago, Ewan McGregor was cast in the lead role. Today, it’s been reported that Ralph Fiennes and Mads Mikkelsen are in “advanced negotiations” to join him.
Our Kind of Traitor revolves around a couple, Perry Makepiece and Gail Perkins, who get involved with a Russian money-laundering oligarch, likely played by Mikkelsen. In the midst of a dangerous criminal activity, the couple find themselves stuck between the Russian Mafia and the British Secret Service.
McGregor will play Makepiece. Despite the rumors circulating that Jessica Chastain might play the role of Perkins, Makepiece’s other half hasn’t been cast. On the other hand, Fiennes is said to play the UK government fixer Hector Meredith, who is in charge of the investigation.
Additionally, the screenplay will be written by Hossein Amini, whose works have included Drive and Snow White and the Huntsman. And according to Screen Daily, StudioCanal will be distributing the $35 million project. Filming is set to start in the summer and it will take place in Paris, Moscow, Marrakech, London and Switzerland.
Though I’m not familiar with Kurzel’s work, I must admit that I’m impressed with the development of Our Kind of Traitor. The movie already features an impressive cast, especially if Fiennes and Mikkelsen sign on, and with Tomas Alfredson’s successful rendition of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and its sequel in the works, it will be interesting to see another director tackle one of Le Carré’s dense espionage novels.
Our Kind of Traitor is scheduled to be released in 2014. In the meantime, we will keep you updated as we get more info.
