Universal Pictures has acquired an untitled pitch for a contemporary drama to be directed by Neil Burger. Variety says the project is a possible follow-up to Burger’s The Illusionist.
Scott Stuber and Mary Parent will produce through their Universal-based Stuber/Parent production company. Burger will write the screenplay with Dirk Wittenborn (Fierce People).
New York-set story concerns an imminent terror threat that’s caused a law-enforcement crackdown, bringing all crime to a standstill. The criminals get organized, pooling their resources to search for the terrorists. While their motivation is to get back to their nefarious business, the exercise forces them to re-examine their morality and place in society.
The trade added that Burger and Wittenborn have already done research into contemporary criminal enterprises work in New York, and they will begin writing the project right away.
