John Lee Hancock is in talks to direct ‘The Founder’, which will chart the rise of the McDonald’s empire.
The script, written by Robert Siegel, charts the true story of how Ray Kroc – a salesman from Illinois – met Mac and Dick McDonald, who ran a burger company in southern California in the 1950s, and quickly realised there was huge potential in their business model.
Consequently, the salesman positioned himself so that he could assume control of the company and transform it into one of the world’s most recognisable brand names.
The Hollywood Reporter says the tone of the film is similar to that of ‘The Social Network’, which tells the story of Facebook’s creation, and ‘There Will Be Blood’, starring Daniel Day-Lewis.
Hancock’s last film was the 2013 hit ‘Saving Mr. Banks’, which featured Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, and told the story of how Walt Disney tried to convince novelist P. L. Travers to make ‘Mary Poppins’.
Hancock also wrote and directed ‘The Blind Side’, the drama for which Sandra Bullock won an Oscar.
Hanks and Michael Keaton have both been linked to the role of Kroc, although the latter was thought to be waiting until the identity of the director was confirmed before making a commitment.
John Lee Hancock in line to direct The Founder
