Guy Ritchie Vehicle ‘Empire Rising’ In The Works

The novel Empire Rising by Thomas Kelly has recently been acquired by Warner Bros. to be developed into a Guy Ritchie film. Published in 2006, Empire Rising tells the story of a love triangle set in 1930’s New York.

Michael Briody, an Irish immigrant and steelworker, struggles between his desire to pursue the American dream and his commitment to gather money and guns for the IRA cause. Briody falls in love with the beautiful artist Grace Masterson, who has also caught the eye of Johnny Farrell, an operator in New York’s corrupt political underworld. The story takes place during the beginning of the Depression and the construction of the Empire State Building.

While Thomas Kelly will adapt his own novel for the screen, the film will be produced by Ritchie along with partner Lionel Wigram. Ritchie and Wigram will also be producing the upcoming The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (also released by Warner Bros.) along with John Davis. Ritchie will be directing from a script he wrote with Wigram.

While the release of Empire Rising and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. are a long way off, more details are sure to emerge regarding both projects.