Killing Pablo Gets Greenlight After Five Years

It has been reported that the Yari Film Group is fast-tracking Killing Pablo starring Christian Bale and Javier Bardem. The Pablo Escobar film has been in development for five years now and was originally set up by Paramount.

One thing that hasn’t changed is that Joe Carnahan (Smoking Aces) is still attached to direct. I loved Smoking Aces and am probably one of a few who really like Carnahan’s work. Bardem is in talks to play Escobar, while Bale is in negotiations to play Major Steve Jacoby, the Delta Force commander who lead the hunt for Escobar.

The Escobar story has influenced numerous movie and storylines over the years. It’s been heavily suggested that the Entourage storyline which involved an Escobar biopic is the cause for the renewed interest.

The film is based on Black Hawk Down’s author Mark Bowden’s book, “Killing Pablo: The Hunt For The World’s Greatest Outlaw” and follows the story of the violent rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, the head of the Colombian Medellin cocaine cartel.

Escobar’s criminal empire held a nation of thirty million hostage in a reign of terror that would only end with his death. In an intense, up-close account, award-winning journalist Mark Bowden exposes details never before revealed about the U.S.-led covert sixteen-month manhunt. With unprecedented access to important players-including Colombian president C&eacutesar Gaviria and the incorruptible head of the special police unit that pursued Escobar, Colonel Hugo Martinez-as well as top-secret documents and transcripts of Escobar’s intercepted phone conversations, Bowden has produced a gripping narrative that is a stark portrayal of rough justice in the real world.

The film could begin shooting as early as June 2008 if SAG doesn’t go on strike. If the strike does happen, the production will be delayed until after the work stoppage.

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