Though he's been saying recently that he wants to keep on making movies set in the Alien universe, Ridley Scott is focusing on more Earthly matters for his next planned film. And while he's been developing an adaptation on Don Winslow's excellent book The Cartel, it would appear that a new based-on-truth film, All The Money In The World, has leapt to the top of his To-Direct list.
According to Deadline, Scott has whisked this one to the fast-track, talking first with Angelina Jolie and now Natalie Portman about the role of Gail Harris. She was at the centre of a 1970s kidnapping case that involved Paul Getty, grandson of the ultra-rich tycoon J. Paul Getty. Swiped during a night out, he was kept chained in a cave for six months and a ransom demanding $17 million was delivered to the family.
Unfortunately for the younger Getty, his grandfather didn't think much of his father or his party lifestyle, and, initially believing the teenager might have staged the whole thing himself, at first refused to pay. He was also unmoved by the pleas of Paul's mother, as Gail Harris had divorced his son and snubbed his money to raise her children alone. One of Paul's ears was posted to the family, and eventually a $2.9 million sum was stumped up. It affected Paul for the rest of his life and he died aged 54. Nine of the kidnappers were arrested, and two were sent to prison.
The case has been the focus of adaptation attempts before; in 2007, Peter Berg was attached to a version. Scott is working from David Scarpa's script and is preparing to start shooting in Italy this May, once he secures both his leading actress and another big name to play the elder Getty.
As for The Cartel, Scott is now aiming to make that one after he finishes the kidnapping pic. And his latest, Alien: Covenant, arrives on 12 May.
Ridley Scott Says Two More Alien Movies Will Follow Covenant