The Shallows director Jaume Collet-Serra has signed on to direct Waco, a drama based upon the 1993 standoff between the U.S. government and David Koresh’s Branch Davidians, which ended with the death of 76 people. The film has been scripted by Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty) and Marc Haimes (Kubo and the Two Strings) and is slated to go into production later this year.
“Waco was a turning point in history in the battle between the FBI and the far right in America,” said Boal. “It is a collision between a militant faction, the Second Amendment and the right to religious freedom. Many said this cult was not bothering anyone; this is about what the FBI and Justice Department perceived as a threat, and why and how the FBI came in and crushed it.”
“Jaume is a filmmaker who has proven himself to have a strong connection to mainstream audiences,” he continued. “His work also shows a high level of artistic ambition, and this is an opportunity to combine those elements in telling a story that started in a small Texas town and reached up to the highest levels of government.”
Collet-Serra’s previous credits include Orphan and Non-Stop, while his next project The Commuter starring Liam Neeson is set for release in 2018. He has also recently been rumoured as a potential candidate to direct Suicide Squad 2.
Originally published June 9, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.
