After being rumored to be on the shortlist of directors forBond 25,Hell or High WaterfilmmakerDavid Mackenziehas set his sights on a different spy franchise, as he’s in early talks to directJett Dayfor Warner Bros., Collider has exclusively learned.
Written byOzarkcreatorBill Dubuque,Jett Dayfollows a black ops agent on a mission to prevent a newly-discovered diamond mine from falling into Russian hands. Dubuque is expected to produce alongsideJon Bergand Zero Gravity’sMark Williams. Warner Bros. executiveKevin McCormickwill oversee the project for the studio.
This is the kind of role that is tailor-made for a young A-lister who can carry a franchise, likeMichael B. JordanorChanning Tatum, and a franchise is precisely what Warner Bros. is hoping for here. There’s an underserved audience out there that doesn’t want to wait several years between Bond movies.That’s why Warners is developing a sequel to Dubuque’s previous spy movieThe Accountant. In fact, every studio has something like this. Paramount hasMission: Impossibleand is developing another franchise around Jordan based on theTom ClancynovelWithout Remorse. Meanwhile, 20th Century Fox, soon to be owned by Disney, has theKingsmanfranchise, while Universal has the Jason Bourne franchise and has been developing the MI6 thrillerSection 6for years, having successfully convinced MGM to drop its lawsuit surrounding the project.
Mackenzie started his career making provocative indie films such asYoung Adam,Spread, andPerfect Sensebefore turning to more violent fare likeStarred UpandHell or High Water, which was nominated for four Oscars and put him in demand at the major studios outside of Disney. His most recent film,Outlaw King, reunited him withChris Pineand debuted late last year on Netflix. Mackenzie is represented by UTA and United Agents.
Dubuque, who was reportedly tapped to write theNightwingmovie for WB and DC, previously penned theRobert Downey Jr.dramaThe Judge. He’s repped by CAA and Zero Gravity Management.
