Picture the film equivalent of one of those dodgy auctions in a hollowed-out high street store where punters bid for what is described as genuine designer perfume. Studios and production companies have been competing to win a package that promises to bring the compelling story of racing half-brothers Walt and Art Arfons to life with Ryan Reynolds starring and Jon Favreau directing.

New Regency is currently in final negotiations for Battle For Bonneville, which would also feature a script by Dan Gilroy, who co-wrote The Bourne Legacy with younger bro Tony.

The half-brothers were obsessed with drag racing, and built their first vehicle together, the Green Monster. They would go on to compete both together and against one another through the years.

But Art yearned to also break a land speed record, and utilised jet-powered cars and would snatch the land speed record three times between 1964 and 1965 with his Green Monsters on the titular Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah (see also: The World's Fastest Indian).

While it’s still early days for the project, we’d figure Reynolds will be playing Art and Favreau, a man who certainly likes his muscle cars, will look to make this as one of the movies following Jersey Boys, which he’s currently casting.