Sean Penn to chase his own action franchise with Taken director Pierre Morel’s Prone Gunman

It seems that Sean Penn is starting to explore his more commercial side.  Starting with this month’s GANGSTER SQUAD, a 1940’s-set action pic, the prolific actor is set to tackle the action franchise department with PRONE GUNMAN, based on the novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette “the story centers on an international operative named Martin Terrier (Penn) who is betrayed by the organization he works for and must go on the run in a relentless game of cat-and-mouse across Europe.”

So, just who do you hire to direct such an endeavor?  Why, Pierre Morel, of course, the helmer who turned Liam Neeson into a household name and inspired fathers all over the world to stop thier daughters from vacationing abroad.  Morel’s last film, the John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers action extravaganza FROM PARIS WITH LOVE, which was a pretty fun distraction, if nothing else.

Why the sudden urge to join the ranks of Liam Neeson?  Who can say.  Penn has always steered his own ship, seeming to take roles that went against the grain of contemporary Hollywood, but he does dip his toe from time to time.  Is this another dip or is he cannonballing into the lake?

PRONE GUNMAN is slated to begin shooting this spring in various locations around Europe.  More as it develops.