J.C. Chandor developing real estate tome The Liar’s Ball as a feature film

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

J.C. Chandor may have dropped out of making DEEPWATER HORIZON but he has found a new project. Chandor will team with A24 Films to adapt Vicky Ward’s non-fiction book The Liar’s Ball. Chandor will work with writer Gideon Yago (The Newsroom, Manhattan) and executive producer Zachary Quinto, who produced and starred in Chandor’s MARGIN CALL.

Ward’s book may not have seemed like the most cinematic story out there, but Chandor has worked wonders with everything from the stock market (MARGIN CALL) to sailing (ALL IS LOST). The topic of real estate should be intriguing. Here’s a rundown of the book.

“The Liar’s Ball” explores a rich, complex tale of industry titans fighting it out over one of the crown jewels of New York City real estate. Much of the story in the book focuses on Harry Macklowe and his battles to own and re-develop the G.M. Building in the 1990’s and into the 2000’s. That battle resulted in the now famous Apple Store “glass cube” but also ultimately in Macklowe losing the building. Remarkably, he rebounded and built a new real estate empire after that loss. It’s a Horatio Alger and King Lear tale set in a fascinating and high-stakes milieu.

Chandor made the following statement about the project.

“Commercial real estate in New York City has long fascinated me, to the point where I once had a broker’s license. The story that Vicky has captured through relentless research and interviews explores the drama and the romantic nature of buildings in a city that has continued to push closer and closer to the sky with each passing year.”

Chandor has quickly proven to be a talent to be reckoned with with each new project gaining buzz the moment it is announced. A MOST VIOLENT YEAR was one of the better movies released in 2014 and I was looking forward to his take on DEEPWATER HORIZON. Depending on how this project develops, it could attract a pretty stellar cast.