Patty Jenkins has been signed to direct a remake of the action comedy Jackpot. The film, based on the 2011 Norwegian dark comedy of the same name, will be Jenkins’ first big screen outing since her 2003 breakthrough Monster.
Jenkins guided Charlize Theron to an Oscar for her transformation into serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster. She had been attached to direct Thor: The Dark World for Marvel but exited the project due to creative differences. In the interim, she’s kept busy on the small screen, directing episodes of Arrested Development and Entourage, and earning an Emmy nomination for the pilot of The Killing.
Jackpot centers around a group of coworkers with questionable pasts who win big in a sports betting pool, only to begin to double-cross each other when it comes to dividing the loot. The Norwegian original was directed by Magnus Martens from a story by best-selling crime author Jo Nesbo (whose novel Headhunters was also turned into a movie in Sweden). David Callaham (The Expendables, Godzilla) is attached to adapt Martens’ script. Easy A producer and director Will Gluck will produce under his Olive Bridge banner. Production and release dates have yet to be announced.