The Kevin Costner Career Resurgence Rages On; Actor Confirmed for McG Film

By  · Published on October 2nd, 2012

That Kevin Costner comeback that kicked off last summer with the rumor that the actor would co-star in Django Unchained (though that proved fruitless), which then carried over to his casting in Man of Steel, an Emmy-winning role in Hatfields & McCoys, and a major part in Jack Ryan just continues to reap huge benefits for the star.

As had been rumored back in August, Costner has now officially signed on to star in director McG’s next film, “a gripping action tale” that’s been penned by Luc Besson and Adi Hasak. Currently untitled, the film has previously been referred to as Three Days to Kill, though perhaps everyone decided that moniker was just a touch too spoilery and has decided to lay off on letting everyone know how long Costner will have to, you know, kill someone.

A press release from Relativity Media describes the film as such: “the thriller explores a story about Secret Service Agent Ethan Runner who discovers he’s dying and decides to retire in order to reconnect with his estranged family. But when the Secret Service offers him access to an experimental drug that could save his life in exchange for one last assignment, he soon finds himself trying to juggle his family, his mission, and the drug’s hallucinatory side-effects.” Wait, there are drugs involved in this? Is this The Bourne Legacy fan fiction? You can read the full release after the break, if you’re just that into Kevin Costner news.

(Beverly Hills, Calif.) October 2, 2012 – EuropaCorp and Relativity Media have closed deals with Oscar®-Winner Kevin Costner (The Bodyguard, Dances With Wolves, Open Range) to star as the lead in this upcoming gripping action tale with McG (Charlie’s Angels, Terminator Salvation) attached to direct from a screenplay by Luc Besson (Taken, Transporter) and Adi Hasak (From Paris With Love). The two companies will work in tandem throughout the creative and production process on the film.

The thriller explores a story about Secret Service Agent Ethan Runner who discovers he’s dying and decides to retire in order to reconnect with his estranged family. But when the Secret Service offers him access to an experimental drug that could save his life in exchange for one last assignment, he soon finds himself trying to juggle his family, his mission, and the drug’s hallucinatory side-effects.

The film is being produced by EuropaCorp’s Besson and Virginie Besson-Silla (From Paris with Love), Hasak and Relativity’s CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter). Relativity’s President, Tucker Tooley (Immortals) will executive produce.

This marks the second of two films that EuropaCorp and Relativity will collaborate on as a part of a co-production and co-financing deal that was announced in May. The deal also includes the darkly comedic action film Malavita directed by Besson and starring Oscar®-Winner Robert De Niro (Limitless, Heat), Oscar®-Nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows, People Like Us), Oscar®-Winner Tommy Lee Jones (No Country For Old Men, Men in Black), Dianna Agron (Glee, I Am Number Four) and John D’Leo (The Wrestler, Wanderlust).

Up next, Relativity will release the outrageous Movie 43 (in theatres January 25, 2013), the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling Safe Haven (in theatres February 8, 2013), the comedy 21 and Over (in theatres March 15, 2013) and the corporate espionage thriller Paranoia (in theatres October 4, 2013). Relativity is currently in post-production on Scott Cooper’s gritty dramatic thriller currently-titled Out of the Furnace.

EuropaCorp is currently releasing internationally Taken 2, the sequel to its franchise hit

Taken (Liam Neeson), directed by Olivier Megaton. EuropaCorp is also in post-production on Mobius, directed by Eric Rochant, starring Oscar®-Winner Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Cécile de France (Here After), and Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, The Incredible Hulk).

Costner was represented in his deal by WME and McG was represented by Management360 in his deal.