Michael Fassbender Offered Lead in Prisoners

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=81213

Source: Edward Douglas
August 18, 2011

Alcon Entertainment has been trying to get their suspense thriller Prisoners off the ground for a couple of years with Leonardo DiCaprio once attached as well as Training Day director Antoine Fuqua.

Back in April, it was announced that Incendies director Denis Villeneuve had taken over the reins, but ComingSoon.net has now learned from a couple of sources that an offer has gone out to actor Michael Fassbender, last seen playing Magneto in Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class, to play the lead role of Keller Dove, a carpenter and father of two who abducts and tortures the main suspect when one of his daughters goes missing in order to try and find the real kidnapper.

No word on who will play that suspect or the other key leading role for the detective on the kidnapping case.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/2011/08/20/confirmedmichael_fassbender_offered_the_lead_in_prisoners_but_can_this_once/

Confirmed: Michael Fassbender Offered The Lead In ‘Prisoners’
However, Can This Once-Hot Project Bag The Rising Star?

While names like Tom Hardy, Andrew Garfield, James McAvoy, Garrett Hedlund and Chris Pine are ostensibly the five biggest rising and most-wanted leading males in Hollywood, arguably no actor is more desirable in Tinseltown right now in than Irish/German actor Michael Fassbender. In the two and half years since 2009’s “Hunger” put him on the map as an acting force to be reckoned with, the thespian has found himself in the utmost demand and has already worked with some of the most top-shelf and interesting directors out there, including Ridley Scott (”Prometheus”), Steven Soderbergh (”Haywire”), Matthew Vaughn (”X-Men: First Class”), British helmer Steve McQueen again (the follow-up to “Hunger,” titled “Shame”), David Cronenberg (”A Dangerous Method”) and Quentin Tarantino (”Inglourious Bastards”). In the works are collaborations with Jim Jarmusch (an untitled vampire film opposite Mia Wasikowska and Tilda Swinton) and actor Brendan Gleeson‘s directorial debut, “At Swim-Two-Birds” with Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy.

The much-sought-after actor was also wanted for the lead in “Akira” and Danny Boyle‘s upcoming heist picture, “Trance,” but while Fassbender was interested in the latter role, it eventually didn’t pan out.

Reports swirled on Friday that Fassbender has now been offered the lead in “Prisoners,” a long-gestating crime thriller compared to “Mystic River,” “Taken,” “Silence of the Lambs” and “Seven,” that centers on a Boston father who, in vigilante-like desperation, kidnaps and tortures the person he suspects is behind the kidnapping of his young daughter and her best friend. So yes, on late Friday we confirmed with Fassbender’s reps that the actor has indeed been offered the lead role of the father Keller Dove, a Bible-reading, deer-hunting survivalist who takes the law into his own hands after he feels failed by a young, brash detective in charge of the investigation who cannot prove that the man he believes is responsible is guilty.

But more importantly, it’s just an offer—will Fassbender take the role? After all, it’s arguable that no other in-development picture in recent memory has gone from as hot to as cold as “Prisoners” has. It’s debatably a major hot potato that many A-listers have flirted with, but then left in the dust.

To take you down memory lane, “Prisoners” was written by Aaron Guzikowski (who wrote the upcoming Mark Wahlberg thriller “Contraband”) and landed very high on the 2009 Black List. Bryan Singer was originally attached with Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale as the picture’s two leads before both actors eventually moved on to David O. Russell‘s “The Fighter,” and the director then ducked out as well. The next iteration involved filmmaker Antoine Fuqua and Hugh Jackman, but never came to pass. In early 2010, Leonardo DiCaprio stepped in as a possible star but with only a brief window of availability, and his participation was contingent on a director he loved. Names were batted around including hot Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa, whose still-to-be-released-in-the-U.S. thriller “Snabba Cash” (”Easy Money”) garnered him the director’s chair to “Safe House” with Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, but nothing came of it. In April of this year, Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, who helmed the critically praised and Oscar nominated “Incendies,” was hired by Warner Bros. to direct the picture, but all previously attached talent had vacated the project including DiCaprio.

Ben Affleck was also rumored to be in talks for the role, but it appears nothing transpired there either. So the question remains, will Fassbender bite? Frankly, it remains to be seen. In terms of Hollywood perception, “Prisoners” is nearing the point of unwanted step-child, a picture that everyone once wanted to be involved in that has now been downgraded director-wise (at least in terms of A-level heat, though Villeneuve is certainly an on-the-rise guy). Michael Fassbender is an actor who has the pick of the litter in terms of what projects he can get and what directors he wants to work with and if Danny Boyle can’t bag him—Fassbender reportedly bailed on “Trance” for scheduling conflicts, but it’s unclear whether it was a much-needed rest or an unannounced competing project—does the less-hot “Prisoners” stand a chance?

It’s debatable and there are many factors in play, including scheduling and whether it’s shooting at a convenient time. It’s conceivable that this arrangement could work, but Fassbender’s agents might be looking toward the Scorseses, Spielbergs and James Camerons of the world before they take this kind of detour. To be completely fair, there’s a reason “Prisoners” made the Black List’s top five in 2009 and all this talent has hovered the project. It’s a crackling, turn-paging script that this writer loved. However, it’s possible that some talent circling the project had some reservations, and possibly felt the same as one Playlist writer who called it a good read, but a “familiar one.”

The Playlist posted to Actors, Michael Fassbender, Films, Prisoners at 12:10 pm on August 20, 2011

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/08/23/michael-fassbender-prisoners_n_933790.html

Michael Fassbender Offered Lead Role In Thriller 'Prisoners'
Michael Fassbender

First Posted: 23/8/11 10:53 GMT Updated: 23/8/11 10:58 GMT
Submit this story

PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Michael Fassbender has been offered the lead role in thriller Prisoners, according to reports.

The X-Men: First Class star is now said to be considering the part of Keller Dove, a carpenter and father-of-two who turns vigilante when one of his daughters goes missing, torturing the person he suspects is behind the kidnapping, reported the Playlist.

It's a role that Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman and Ben Affleck were once attached to, along with Training Day director Antoine Fuqua.

There has been no other word on who will play the other roles as yet in the long-developing film, which has been in the works since 2009.

Since making an impact in Steve McQueen's Hunger and Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, Fassbender - who portrayed X-Men villain Magneto opposite James McAvoy in X-Men: First Class, has been one of the most sought-after stars.

He is in talks to take part in an untitled vampire film with Mia Wasikowska and Tilda Swinton, and Brendan Gleeson's directorial debut, At Swim-Two-Birds with Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5i3gUwD5gYQEqhjoK0HfT6RnS0FIA?docId=N0529051314027015441A

Fassbender offered Prisoners role

(UKPA) – 4 hours ago

Michael Fassbender has been offered the lead role in thriller Prisoners, according to reports.

The X-Men: First Class star is now said to be considering the part of Keller Dove, a carpenter and father-of-two who turns vigilante when one of his daughters goes missing, torturing the person he suspects is behind the kidnapping, reported the Playlist.

It's a role that Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman and Ben Affleck were once attached to, along with Training Day director Antoine Fuqua.

There has been no other word on who will play the other roles as yet in the long-developing film, which has been in the works since 2009.

Since making an impact in Steve McQueen's Hunger and Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, Michael - who portrayed X-Men villain Magneto opposite James McAvoy in X-Men: First Class, has been one of the most sought-after stars.

He is in talks to take part in an untitled vampire film with Mia Wasikowska and Tilda Swinton, and Brendan Gleeson's directorial debut, At Swim-Two-Birds with Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy.

Copyright © 2011 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

http://entertainment.ie/cinema/news/Michael-Fassbender-May-Replace-Leonardo-DiCaprio-In-Prisoners/81829.htm

Michael Fassbender May Replace Leonardo DiCaprio In Prisoners

22 August 2011

Michael Fassbender is being lined up to replace Leonardo DiCaprio in the thriller, Prisoners, according to reports from the folks at ComingSoon.net.

Training Day director Antoine Fuqua was also attached to the project for some time, but has since been replaced by Incendies helmer, Denis Villeneuve. The plot centres on a man (to be possibly played by Fassbender) who kidnaps a criminal who has information on the whereabouts of his missing daughter. He tortures him to find out what he needs to know.

Fassbender has been offered the role, but there's no word on if he has accepted it yet.

http://upandcomers.net/2011/08/21/michael-fassbender-offered-lead-in-thriller-prisoners/

Michael Fassbender offered lead in thriller “Prisoners”
by Linda Ge | Tags: a danerous method, aaron guzikowski, casting, jane eyre, michael fassbender, prisoners, prometheus, rumors, shame, x-men: first class

Everybody wants a piece of Michael Fassbender. We’ve seen his name pop up on every wanted list for every high profile project in development lately, and here’s another one to add to the list. The Playlist reports Fassbender has been officially offered the lead role in long-gestating kidnap/revenge thriller “Prisoners”.

With a Black List script by Aaron Guzikowski that is compared to movies like “Mystic River,” “Taken,” “Silence of the Lambs” and “Seven,” “Prisoners” revolves around a desperate father who kidnaps and tortures the person he believes is behind the kidnapping of his young daughter and her best friend. Before Fassbender, tons of A-List talent had been attached to the film at one point or another, including Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Leonardo Dicaprio and Ben Affleck, and Playlist reiterates Fassbender merely has an offer on the table, and has not decided one way or another to take it or turn it down.

Certainly, his increasingly busy schedule could be a bit of a roadblock. Currently wrapping up filming on Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated “Alien” reboot “Prometheus”, Fassbender recently dropped out of Danny Boyle’s “Trance” due to scheduling conflicts and is already committed to a number of upcoming films, including 1970s punk scene biopic “Good Vibrations” and an untitled Jim Jarmusch vampire flick, which would reunite him with “Jane Eyre” co-star Mia Wasikowska. He will also have a very busy end of 2011 as two completed films, Steve McQueen’s “Shame” and David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method”, hit the festival circuit and gear up for an awards season run.