Author Don Winslow has been having a pretty good summer, what with his novel “The Cartel” climbing the bestseller charts and then being picked up by 20th Century Fox for an adaptation by Ridley Scott. Fox also acquired Winslow’s “The Power of the Dog” at that time, and it seems a third Winslow adaptation is in the offing, too.
[amz asin=”0307277666″ size=”small”]According to Deadline, William Friedkin is set to develop and direct a film version of Winslow’s 2007 novel “The Winter of Frankie Machine“, which tells the story of a retired mob hitman who must revert back to his old ways when he realizes he’s wanted dead.
The project was once set up at Paramount but currently has no studio attachment or backing. Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann were each on board to direct for a time, with Robert De Niro attached to star, but that all fell through some time ago. Deadline reports Winslow will adapt his own novel here — a la Gillian Flynn with last year’s Gone Girl — and also notes Friedkin seeks to go smaller scale like he did with his adaptation of Killer Joe a few years ago.
Friedkin and Winslow haven’t yet approach anyone to take on the lead role, though Deadline’s report cites Walton Goggins (Django Unchained) as Friedkin’s ideal choice. The premise for Winslow’s novel is as follows:
Frankie Machianno, a hard-working entrepreneur, passionate lover, part-time surf bum, and full-time dad, is a widely recognized pillar of his waterfront community. He is also a retired hit man. Once better known as Frankie Machine, he was a brutally efficient killer. Now someone from his past wants him dead, and after a botched attempt on his life, Frankie sets out to find his potential killers. However, the list of suspects is longer than the California coastline. With the mob on his heels and the cops on his tail, Frankie hatches a plan to protect his family, save his life, and escape the mob forever. Then things get really complicated.
