'American Gangster' may not be dead

'Hotel Rwanda' director Terry George will take charge of the remarkable story of Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas.

Mar 16 2005

'American Gangster' was one of the most interesting projects emerging from Hollywood last year.

Based on a New York Magazine article by Mark Jacobson, it was to tell the true story of Frank Lucas, a Harlem drug lord (nicknamed 'Superfly') who smuggled heroin into America in the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam.

He was eventually brought down by New York detective Richie Roberts, and ended up helping the police catch the dirty cops and drug dealers involved in the scheme.

The picture was to have starred Denzel Washington as Lucas and Benicio Del Toro as Roberts, with 'Training Day' director Antoine Fuqua taking the helm.

However, just weeks before production was due to start, a spiralling budget and 'creative differences' saw Fuqua leave the project and the plug pulled.

Producer Brian Grazer has spent the intervening months trying to keep 'American Gangster' alive, and this week it was announced that 'Hotel Rwanda' writer-director Terry George is to take charge of the movie.

He will first work on revising Steven Zaillian's script to bring down the budget before assembling his cast, which may or may not include Washington and Del Toro (rumours are already circulating that 'Hotel Rwanda' star Don Cheadle will take over the Lucas role).

And rest assured, Time Out will keep you posted regarding what happens to the project this time around.