Coming out on top of a multi-studio bidding war, Apple Original Films has landed Two for the Money, a heist thriller to star Charlize Theron and Daniel Craig, with Justin Lin set to direct.
Dan Mazeau, who worked with Lin to co-write Fast X, is penning the script for the project, which is in development.
While plot details are being kept safely behind a laser trip-wire security system, the story follows the evolution of a relationship between two career thieves, to be played by Theron and Craig, over the course of three big jobs.
Theron will produce via her Denver & Delilah banner, Lin through his Perfect Storm Entertainment, along with Jeff Kirschenbaum and Joe Roth of RK Films. RK has also worked on certain Fast flicks, including Fast X.
Fast X is the unlikely starting point for Two for the Money. Lin and Mazeau came up with the idea for the project during their time on the 10th installment and then pitched Theron, who was part of the sprawling Fast cast. The actress fell for the story’s Cary Grant-Rosalind Russell snappy rapport vibe and suggested that Craig be her guy Friday. Lin famously did not go on to direct Fast X and after exiting, focused on a more personal project. When that got far enough along and after the film was released in May, the team refocused on the heist thriller.
Two for the Money continues to build upon Apple’s high-profile, high-wattage film slate. The studio is in the awards conversation with Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which is already garnering wins, and has Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, starring Joaquin Phoenix, in theaters as well. Next up is Matthew Vaughn’s star-jammed spy thriller Argylle. It is also in production on a Formula 1 feature starring Brad Pitt.
For Perfect Storm, Two for the Money is the biggest sale and project yet to be set up by Lin and his president, Andrew Schneider. The latter executive added film to his purview at the beginning of the year, and the two have been working on laying out the road map for Lin’s post-Fast future. That includes Lin returning to his indie roots by directing The Last Days of John Allen Chau, which will shoot in Thailand in early 2024.
Theron next stars in The Old Guard 2, which Netflix will release in 2024. Craig last appeared leading the cast of Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion. Mazeau, meanwhile, wrote Damsel, the upcoming fantasy starring Millie Bobby Brown that will also hit Netflix next year.
Theron is repped by CAA and Hansen Jacobson, while Craig is repped by CAA, Independent Talent in the U.K. and Glaser Weil.
Justin Lin and Perfect Storm are repped by CAA and Sloane Offer, while Mazeau is repped by CAA, Leigh Hill Management and Katz Golden.
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