While casino gambling and the like has been explored plenty in the world of cinema, I think it is safe to say that the world of online gambling has gone fairly untouched. But that looks to change with an original script called RUNNER RUNNER that has scored Brad Furman (THE LINCOLN LAWYER) to direct and Ben Affleck to star alongside Justin Timberlake.
All we know about the script thus far is that it is by Brian Koppelman and David Levien (OCEAN’S 13, ROUNDERS) and “set in the world of illegal online gambling.” Which, admittedly, isn’t much to go on. But considering the interest of Timberlake and Affleck and how they could have their pick of just about any project they wanted, there must be something more to RUNNER RUNNER than meets the eye.
It takes a special kind of directorial skill to find build the tension and stakes high enough such that watching some dudes sit around and gamble in a feature film is interesting – do you think Furman can do it?