Shortly after the Boston Marathon Bombing various people announced they were planning movies based around the tragedy. However, so far none has made it to the screen. One of the movies still working its way through pre-production and may have found a new star, as Variety reports Jake Gyllenhaal is circling the movie.
If he signs on he’d play Jeff Bauman, who survived the bombing but lost both legs. Jake’s not the only actor in contention but it appears he’s the favourite to land the part, undoubtedly helped by his excellent performance in another underdog tale, Southpaw.
Bauman had a central role in the story, as film will ‘detail the aftermath of the 2013 attack at the marathon finish line, where Bauman had been cheering for his girlfriend. A photo of Bauman moments after the blast remains one of the best-known images from the tragedy, which killed three and injured more than 260. When Bauman awoke the next day after surgeries and realized he could not speak, he asked for a pad and paper and wrote: “Saw the guy. Looked right at me. That set off a massive manhunt for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was convicted of the murders in April.’
David Gordon Green is set to direct the movie, with John Pollono writing the script, based on a book by Bauman and Bret Witter.