Todd Field’s The Creed of Violence Gets Financing

It’s been six years since Todd Field’s adaptation of Little Children, his follow-up to the multiple Oscar nominee In the Bedroom, and now, nearly three years after Field took on an adaptation of Boston Teran’s The Creed of Violence, Cross Creek Pictures have come on board to produce and finance the filmmaker’s third feature film with Universal Pictures set to distribute.

The fifth novel by Teran, author of God is a Bullet, is set during the 1910 Mexican Revolution as seen through the eyes of a small-time assassin named Rawbone and a young Bureau of Investigation agent named John Lourdes. The two are forced to work together to infiltrate a Mexican arms smuggling ring where they encounter killers and thieves.

With Oscar-nominated producers Brian Oliver (Black Swan) and Michael DeLuca (The Social Network) on board, the production is scheduled to start filming in early 2013 in the American Southwest and in Mexico.

Last year, Leonardo DiCaprio was named as a possible star, which got the long-in-development project moving forward, but the lack of a mention of his name in Cross Creek’s press release may mean he’s chosen to opt out.

Brian Oliver from Cross Creek Pictures explained the appeal of the project that got him involved as a producer:

“The book and Todd’s adaptation remind me of Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness.’ Teran’s novel brings a unique perspective to U.S. imperialism for oil in the early 20th century. We are confident that Todd’s skill for deeply felt, emotionally resonant characters combined with this action-packed story will make for an epic, influential film.”