Butler, Farrell, Fox up for Mitch Rapp role in CONSENT TO KILL
In January, we reported that CBS Films had brought on director Antoine Fuqua (Shooter, Training Day, Brooklyn's Finest) to helm the studio's adaptation of Consent To Kill, one of the 11 bestselling Vince Flynn novels that feature the CIA assassin/counter-terrorism agent Mitch Rapp.
CBS Films has narrowed its focus to three actors, with Gerard Butler, Colin Farrell and Matthew Fox being considered for the Bourne/Bauer-esque lead role.
The studio is trying to woo Butler and Farrell for the role, with Butler's thicker action resume making him the frontrunner. But it's not certain that either would even take the role. Fox on the other hand, is aggressively vying for the role, looking to break into features after LOST comes to a close.
I think Butler NEEDS a role like this, to dig him out of the terrible romantic comedy kick he's been on lately, dawning his over-the-top American accent. The films Farrell has chosen have been hit and miss, but he always turns in solid performances. Fox is actually my favorite choice for the role. I think a role that has him kicking ass and taking names would be a nice way to shock audiences out of seeing him only in the Jack Shepherd role he's had for the last half-decade.
Though the trio is their primary focus, CBS Films execs have also had conversations with reps for Keanu Reeves and Jon Hamm. No offers have been made to anyone as of yet.
Consent To Kill will begin lensing this summer, so a decision should be made soon.
Who do you think they should cast as Mitch Rapp? Is there anyone they're not looking at who would be better???
Book Synopsis for Consent To Kill :
CIA assassin Mitch Rapp battles a Saudi billionaire bent on revenge, an ex–East German Stasi spy and a deadly husband-and-wife team of assassins. There’s a $20-million contract out on Mitch’s head, and to add injury to insult, he hurts his leg during a morning run. After a knee operation and an even more serious mishap, Mitch is out of the hospital and hot on the trail of the evildoers. Besides terrorists and assassins, Mitch has to battle the new national director of intelligence, a craven, hypocritical, inside-the-Beltway operator.