About a year ago, it was being reported that director John Hillcoat (THE ROAD, THE PROPOSITION) would be adapting Matt Bondurant’s novel The Wettest County in the World. At the time, Shia LaBeouf was said to already be attached along with Ryan Gosling and Amy Adams. Cut to four months ago, and the word was that THE WETTEST COUNTY IN THE WORLD (with a title change to THE PROMISED LAND?) was dead in the water and that LaBeouf and Hillcoat would instead be tackling a cops and robbers flick called TRIPLE NINE.
So, what gives?
According to the LA Times’ 24 Frames blog, THE WETTEST COUNTY IN THE WORLD (not being referred to as THE PROMISED LAND) is alive and well! Apparently, sources close to them are saying that LaBeouf will indeed be starring in the film, and that now Tom Hardy (THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, BRONSON) will be joining him at his side, presumably replacing the previously attached Ryan Gosling. No word, however, on whether or not Amy Adams is still involved with the project.
The adaptation will come written courtesy of frequent Hillcoat collaborator Nick Cave (who wrote and scored THE PROPOSITION as well as scored THE ROAD). The story follows a family of Prohibition-era bootleggers and the crimes committed by and against them.
THE WETTEST COUNTY IN THE WORLD is expected to begin production something in spring.
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