Cronenberg Makes for 'Cosmopolis' Instead of 'Matarese Circle'

I just hope 'Matarese' isn't dead

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Tuesday, July 28th 2009 at 12:42 PM

Those hoping David Cronenberg's next film would be The Matarese Circle with Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington will have to wait a little longer to see if that project comes together as Variety recently announced the director would be making Cosmopolis his next film.

Cronenberg will be adapting the screenplay himself based on Don DeLillo's novel "Cosmopolis" which follows a 28-year-old multimillionaire on a 24-hour odyssey across Manhattan. Shooting is already scheduled for 2010 in Toronto and New York.

While knowing very little about the film, Cosmopolis sounds interesting enough as I imagine where Cronenberg could take such a plot, but I really hope Matarese Circle comes together. Something about Cronenberg, Cruise and Washington teaming together on a Robert Ludlum adaptation just gets me excited at the possibilities. Variety makes note that it is still on his development plate and last we heard about the project Cronenberg told the Toronto Star, "I've spoken to both Tom and Denzel, and they both want to do it… They're waiting to read my script. So I'm under a lot of pressure and I don't want to screw it up."

The first draft of the script was penned by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (Wanted). For more on Cronenberg's thoughts on that film click here.

My assumption is Cronenberg knew there was no chance of starting with Cruise immediately as he is set to star in Wichita with Cameron Diaz and Cosmopolis came along. We're just going to have to wait and see how things progress.