Sony Pictures has bought the rights to Darren Aronofsky’s crime thriller 'Caught Stealing,' which Austin Butler will star in. The announcement was made by the studio on Wednesday.
The screenplay for the movie, based on Charlie Huston's book, will be written by Huston with Protozoa producing.
'Caught Stealing' is about Hank Thompson, a worn-out ex-baseball player, who finds himself in a dangerous fight for survival in the criminal underworld of 1990s New York City, without realizing it.
Sanford Panitch, president of Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, said in a statement to TheWrap, “Working with Darren, who is an incredibly talented storyteller, to adapt Charlie Huston's amazing books for Austin to star in, was an opportunity too good to pass up.
Aronofsky added, “I'm thrilled to be collaborating with Sony Pictures again to bring Charlie’s heart-pounding adventure to life. I'm eager to begin working with Austin and my team of filmmakers from New York City.”
The director joins other filmmakers at the studio, such as Sam Mendes, Taika Waititi, Danny Boyle, and Kogonada.
Aronofsky has previously directed films like “π,” “Requiem for a Dream,” “The Fountain,” “The Wrestler,” and the Academy Award-nominated “Black Swan.” He also directed “The Whale” which won two Academy Awards.
He also recently directed the first-ever experience for MSG’s Sphere in Las Vegas, entitled “Postcard From Earth.”
In Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis,” Butler was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. He is currently in Denis Villeneuve’s successful film “Dune: Part Two,” and will star in Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders.” He is also set to star in and produce Sony’s film adaptation of Don Winslow’s “City on Fire.” Additionally, he stars in Apple TV’s miniseries “Masters of Air” and has appeared in movies like “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” and “The Dead Don’t Die.”
Huston, known for novels like “Catchpenny,” “Sleepless,” “The Shotgun Rule” and “Already Dead,” is also developing original TV projects for various platforms and has a scripted podcast in the works for Audible.
Aronofsky is represented by CAA, Narrative and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher. Butler is represented by WME, Anonymous Content, Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern and The Lede Company. Huston is represented by Katz Golden Lerner and Writers House.
Deadline first made the news known.
