Oscar winner, Ron Howard has been tipped to direct real life based project MENA, by Universal Pictures.
The script by Gary Spinelli follows the story of Barry Seal, a pilot and drug trafficker who shifted contraband for both the CIA and the Medellin cartel in the ’80s. Operating under the alias Ellis Mackenzie McPickles, Seal up-scaled his cartel operations and moved his base to Mena, Arkansas. Later he worked as an undercover informant to avoid a hefty prison sentence and met with a big-screen worthy assassination at the hands of the cartel.
We all know tales of drug gangs and smuggling are popular with audiences – just think about the cult status of SCARFACE or Breaking Bad. Universal eventually paid $1 million for the script after a bidding war with Sony.
Howard won the Academy Award for Best Director for his 2001 biopic of Nobel Laureate John Nash, A BEAUTIFUL MIND. His track record has been consistently proven in the box office with features such as APOLLO 13, RUSH and Dan Brown adaptations THE DA VINCI CODE and ANGELS AND DEMONS.
Source: Deadline
