Jared Leto is set to direct police thriller film ’77’.
The 45-year-old actor has teamed up with Paramount Pictures to direct his first feature film based on James Ellroy’s original screenplay ‘L.A Confidential’, although the script has been revised by David Matthews – who has worked on ‘Narcos’ and ‘Boardwalk Empire’ – according to Deadline.
The ‘Suicide Squad’ actor – who is known for playing the role as the Joker in the fantasy film alongside Margot Robbie, Will Smith and Cara Delevingne – has previously directed the documentary ‘Artifact’, which won an award at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival, and he’s had plenty of experience directing music videos and commercials under the pseudonym Bartholomew Cubbins.
Leto confirmed the news on Twitter as he posted a link to the story confirming the news, which he captioned: "Jared Leto To Direct Thriller ’77’ For Paramount (sic)."
The film is set in 1974 with a politically charged Los Angeles as its backdrop, and the plot follows two police officers on their mission to recover kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst, whilst also investigating the brutal murder of a fellow police officer.
Hearst hid in Los Angeles with her Symbionese Liberation Army kidnappers but managed to escape before six SLA members were gunned down in a shoot-out with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
Leto is also producing the film alongside writer and co-producer Dick Wolf and Wolf Films’ Tony Ganz.
Emma Ludbrook – who works with Leto under their company Paradox – is on hand to executive produce the forthcoming production.
Leto won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ and can next be seen in ‘Blade Runner 2049’ opposite Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling.
Jared Leto confirms directorial debut for 77
