Bigelow’s Bin Laden Pic Lands at Sony

Referred to only as an untitled film and not Kill Bin Laden, which is the title that has been used since the project gained steam following the death of Al Quaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden, Columbia Pictures just issued a press release to announce they had acquired Kathryn Bigelow’s next film, which was written by The Hurt Locker scripter Mark Boal.

The untitled film focuses on the black ops mission to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, which culminated in his death earlier this month during a high-stakes raid on his compound in Pakistan. Bigelow and Boal have been developing the project since 2008 and plan to incorporate recent events into the film.

There is no mention of casting even though Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom) was mentioned earlier this month as being offered a role as a special operative in the feature, a role he apparently chose as opposed to starring opposite Kristen Stewart in Universal’s Snow White and the Huntsman.

Commenting on the announcement, Sony co-chairman Amy Pascal said, “With the death of Osama bin Laden, this film could not be more relevant. Kathryn and Mark have an outstanding perspective on the team that was hunting the most wanted man in the world. Mark is second to none as an investigative journalist, and Kathryn will bring the same kind of compelling authenticity and urgency that distinguished The Hurt Locker and made that film so memorable and special.”

Boal won an Oscar for his Hurt Locker screenplay while the film won Best Picture and Bigelow won Best Director.

As for production on the bin Laden picture, it is expected to begin late summer of 2011 with an eye for a fourth quarter 2012 release, placing it in prime Oscar position.

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