Sony Pictures has snapped up the rights to the upcoming book Hunting El Chapo: The Thrilling Inside Story of the American Lawman Who Captures the World’s Most-Wanted Drug Lord from Cole Morrell and Douglas Century, tapping 3 Arts Entertainment to produce a movie adaptation.
As you can probably guess from the title, the film will explore the true story of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, the head of the Sinaloa Cartel, who has been labelled “the most powerful drug trafficker in the world” and “the most ruthless, dangerous and featured man on the planet” by the United States government.
El Chapo has twice escaped custody, and was last captured in January 2016 and extradited to the U.S. earlier this year, where he is facing various charges relating to his activities with the Sinaloa Cartel.
Sony’s project will find itself competing against another El Chapo movie, with Ridley Scott attached to direct The Cartel at Fox. It is said that Sony is also looking to attach an A-list director, with Michael Bay topping the list, having previously worked with 3 Arts on 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.
Originally published March 10, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
