Universal Pictures has optioned James Sallis’ novel "Drive," about a stunt driver on the run from hitmen, with Hugh Jackman set to star.
As is the norm these days, star Jackman will also co-produce with partner John Palermo, with whom he runs the film company Seed Prods. According to Palermo, "Drive" will be a "Steve McQueen-type role" for Jackman, so we can expect lots and lots of chase scenes through the dusty roads of the Southwest. It’s also likely we’ll see some pretty sweet vehicles in this Jackman…vehicle.
From Variety: "Sallis’ noir-style story, set in the seamy underside of Southern California and Arizona, centers on a stuntman who moonlights as a wheelman during robberies and discovers that a contract has been put on him."
Variety squeezes in another interesting tidbit: "Seed Prods. projects in the works include "X-Men" spinoff "Wolverine," "Fed X," "If You Could See Me Now" and "Rebound Guy.""
The "X-Men" spinoff in question, which will depart from the ensemble nature of the three "X-Men" movies, will focus on Jackman’s character Wolverine; the project is still in development and is rumored to be the reason filmmakers decided to abruptly end the ever-popular original franchise. "X-Men: The Last Stand" is due out May 26 and is coincidentally co-produced by Seed Productions’ Palermo.
