Steve Zaillian to pen Fox thriller “Dark Web”June 5, 2017 - 12:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Steve Zaillian is the latest writer to surf the Dark Web for Fox, The Hollywood Reporter reveals. The Night Of co-creator and Oscar-winning screenwriter has been hired to pen a rewrite of the thriller, which follows the true story of a 29-year-old idealist named Ross William Ulbricht (aka Dread Pirate Roberts) who built an online illegal-drug marketplace called "The Silk Road." Along the way, Ulbricht allegedly became a murderous kingpin. Zaillian takes over duties from fellow Oscar-winning writers Joel and Ethan Coen, who penned the previous draft. The project, previously titled Silk Road, is based on a two-part Wired magazine article by Joshuah Bearman that was set up at the studio in 2013. The scope of the project has been expanded and now also will be based on Nick Bilton's book American Kingpin, which Fox has acquired. The book delves into more of the characters in the true story, including several agents not mentioned in the Wired articles. American Kingpin also dives deep into the alleged corruption of Carl Force from the DEA and Shaun Bridges from the Secret Service. Best-selling author Dennis Lehane was the first writer to attached to the property, but he became unattached. Will Staples wrote the first draft. Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping also are producing through their Chernin Entertainment shingle alongside Joshua Davis and Bearman. Zaillian most recently worked with Chernin and Topping on the upcoming Cold War thriller Red Sparrow for Fox (all three are producers on the Jennifer Lawrence starrer alongside David Ready). Between writing and producing, Zaillian remains one of the most in-demand in film. The Schindler's List writer is currently in preproduction on the Martin Scorsese-helmed mob epic The Irishman, which he wrote. And HBO's The Night Of, which he also co-wrote, executive produced and served as director on for all but one of the episodes, is expected to be a strong contender in the Emmy race. Top stories Ara Aivazian said Azerbaijan continues the traditions of Turkey after seizing territories and forced Armenians out. The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |