Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley (
12 Years a Slave) is set to direct
L.A. Riots, a film he's been attached to as writer for years.
Previously Spike Lee and Justin Lin had been on board to direct, but neither one got it off the ground, giving Ridley the chance to helm his own screenplay. The story is obviously based on the titular 1992 riots that took place after the acquittal of four LAPD officers in the brutal beating of Rodney King. The city was devastated by four days of intense rioting, leading to more than $1B in damage, dozens killed and thousands injured. This one's gong to make a lot of noise, and you can bet Ridley will gather a strong ensemble for it.
Matthew Vaughn has been keeping so busy lately that one has to wonder if he'll truly return to direct a
Kingsman: The Secret Service sequel. It sure doesn't seem like it. Vaughn is now set to produce and direct
Ascension, based on a spec script picked up by Fox. Penned by Shannon Triplett, a producer on
Godzilla, this one is a big sci-fi action flick centering on a scientist who must save the world when Earth loses gravity. Sounds cool and exactly the kind of thing Vaughn would be good at. We'll have to wait for it, though,
as his next project is the spy film, I Am Pilgrim. [
Deadline]
