BOMB: Ridley Scott to light the fuse for an adaptation of the Kevin McMullin action-packed short story

Studios are snapping up projects left and right before the end of the year, and now 20th Studios is getting in on the action. After a heated auction, the studio bought the rights to Kevin McMullin’s short story BOMB. The story lights the fuse for an action thriller with franchise potential, and Ridley Scott is coming aboard to direct. In addition to getting behind the camera, Ridley Scott’s production company, Scott Free, will produce BOMB. The project calls for a young actor to take the lead, so start taking bets on which of Hollywood’s up-and-coming stars could explode on screens for this hotly-anticipated presentation.

According to Deadline, several studios put their bidding paddles in the air for BOMB, including Netflix, Apple, Sony, and Warner Bros. 20th sealed the deal by saying Scott would direct. Plus, Scott has an existing relationship with McMullin, which I’m sure went a long way to close the gate.

Sources close to the project describe BOMB as an action thriller akin to classics like Dog Day Afternoon and Speed. Here’s a hint at the narrative for BOMB, courtesy of Deadline’s exclusive report: “Frankie Ippolito is a hostage negotiator called into duty the night before his wedding in London. A man who has parked himself in a construction site in Piccadilly Circus is standing on a newly uncovered, unexploded bomb from WWII. He tells local law enforcement he will only speak with Frankie and this sets off a chain of events, where Frankie is drawn into an overnight struggle to stop the bomber with whom he has a past.”

Alright, calling someone into a life-threatening situation the night before their wedding is just rude! There are so many last-minute tasks to complete before the big day. This villain is dastardly!

Scott’s latest film, Napoleon, is still playing in theaters, with a worldwide total of $172M+ at the box office. Napoleon is an original and personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine. The film captures Napoleon’s famous battles, relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary.

Napoleon stars Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role of the French emperor. Vanessa Kirby joins Phoenix as Empress Josephine, as well as Tahar Rahim, Mark Bonnar, Rupert Everett, and Youssef Kerkour. Ridley Scott directs Napoleon from a script by David Scarpa. The producers on board include Kevin J. Walsh, Mark Huffman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Ridley Scott. The film’s executive producers are Raymond Kirk, Aidan Elliott, and Michael Pruss.

Are you excited to learn more about BOMB? Let us know in the comments below.