“Game of Thrones” helmer to direct Liam Neeson in “Narco Sub”

PanARMENIAN.Net - “Game of Thrones” director Brian Kirk has closed a deal to direct 20th Century Fox, Scott Free and Genre Films’ action-thriller “Narco Sub,” which will likely star Liam Neeson, TheWrap said citing multiple individuals familiar with the project.

David Guggenheim (“Safe House”) wrote the movie, which Ridley Scott is producing with Simon Kinberg of Genre Films, whose Aditya Sood will executive produce with Scott Free’s Elishia Holmes.

“Narco Sub” follows a notorious Ecuadorian drug lord who forces a disgraced American naval officer to navigate a cocaine-packed submarine past the U.S. Coast Guard.

The producers have had their eye on Neeson to star since September and now that they have their director in place, will focus on closing a deal with the “Taken” star.

Tony Scott, Doug Liman and Antoine Fuqua are among the filmmakers who have circled early incarnations of the project over the years.

Kirk has worked on some of the biggest shows on TV, directing episodes of “Boardwalk Empire,” “Dexter” and “Luther” in addition to HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” He made his feature directorial debut with the indie drama “Middletown” starring Matthew Macfadyen. Kirk also spent years developing “Passengers,” which Morten Tyldum is now directing for Sony, with Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence eyed to star.

Neeson is coming off the box office disappointment “Run All Night,” though he’s set to appear in “Ted 2,” which is expected to be a big hit when it opens this summer. Neeson recently wrapped the title role in “A Monster Calls,” and he’s currently filming Martin Scorsese’s religious drama “Silence.”