After already being played by both Lee Marvin (in Point Black) and Mel Gibson (in Payback) Donald Westlake’s Parker (the dark and fictional criminal who headlines 24 of his novels) is due to appear on screen once again; being played by The Expendables’ Jason Statham; and now has a villain to square up against, in the form of Michael Chiklis.
Best known for playing the ethically ambiguous Vic Mackey on FX’s brilliant cop-drama The Shield, Chiklis will likely play an even meaner character in the John J. McLaughlin (Black Swan) written thriller that may or may not be a new story for the honourable (yet even more ethically ambiguous than Mackey) criminal Parker, or could be another adaptation of one of Westlake’s novels.
Taylor Hackford (Ray) is set to direct the movie, which could place Money Train’s Jennifer Lopez (a woman also known for singing the odd song, and residing on the judging panel of American Idol) as it’s female lead; providing current talks end well; will also star Clifton Collins Jr. (Star Trek), and Wendell Pierce (The Wire) and is due to begin shooting next month in New Orleans, for an unscheduled release sometime next year.
Matt Wheeldon.
Source: Deadline.
