Back in May we told you that Jonah Hill was circling Todd Phillips’ true crime comedy ARMS AND THE DUDES; he has now landed the leading role in the film and Phillips is set to direct after initially only going to produce. The script, co-written by Phillips, comes from LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN scribe Jason Smilovic, adapted from an original Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawsom (which you can and should read here). The Wrap also reports that Miles Teller (WHIPLASH, THE FANTASTIC FOUR) is being eyed to star opposite Hill.
It sounds like this great sounding project is getting underway with some nice casting. Last year when I read the true story of two men from Miami Beach, who wound up becoming international arms dealers when they win a $300 million contract from the government to supply America's allies in Afghanistan with weapons, I figured it was only a matter of time until it was made into a movie. It’s said that Jesse Eisenberg and Shia LaBeouf were originally eyed to star; LaBeouf would have been a great choice, so that’s too bad. Hill is set to play one of the dudes of course and if Teller should join, he would play the other dude.
Have you read the story yet? What do you think of the casting?