‘Prisoners’ Finds a Buyer

Published by Jeff Leins on: July 29th, 2009

Alcon Entertainment has purchased the spec script Prisoners, a kidnapping thriller set in a small Massachusetts town.  After shelling out north of a million dollars for the rights, the company plans to fast track the movie for an October 2010 release through Warner Bros.

The script tells the story of a carpenter who takes matters into his own hands after his daughter and her friend are kidnapped.  He captures the man he believes is responsible while police track down potential suspects.

THR is reporting Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale are no longer attached in the $30-40 million budget.  They would have played the carpenter protagonist and a police detective respectively.  Bryan Singer was also set up to direct at one point, but will no longer be involved.  Alcon is actively searching for new talent.

I had a chance to read this, which is considered one of the hottest scripts in the industry right now.  The writing is very good, though the plot felt like Silence of the Lambs at times (not necessarily a bad thing).  I had chills run down my spine more than once.  I’m such a baby.  However, I’m glad Wahlberg is no longer on board.  I’m not the biggest fan of his (especially after The Happening) and he’s already in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones as a father going through emotional turmoil over the loss of his daughter.  Shame to see Bale go, though.