THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR. BULLITT, THE GETAWAY. GRAND PRIX. THE TOWERING INFERNO. THE GREAT ESCAPE. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. PAPILLON. Every film a classic and every one of them starring Steve McQueen. Thirty-five years after his untimely death at the age of fifty, the world will finally be getting the biopic of one of the greatest movie stars in Hollywood history. The announcement comes via Lake Forest Entertainment and The Exchange have teamed up to finance the film which will be titled MCQUEEN.
Based on a biography ten years in the making, MCQUEEN will trace the actor's life from his childhood in the Midwest through his death in Mexico in 1980. The book includes entries from McQueen's wife's diary which contains something that happened in McQueen's life that has been a secret but will be revealed in the film.
The Exchange's CEO, Brian O'Shea, had this to say about the project.
"McQueen is the King of Cool, his life was unflinching and impacted so many people around the globe, we are proud to be part of the driving force to bring this movie to life. Steve McQueen talent was iconic, but so was his life. His style, his strength, and his character made him a star, and it will also attract the best talent and make MCQUEEN a smashing success."
McQueen was an avid racer of motorcycles and cars outside of his acting work. The racing made it's way into some of his movies like THE GETAWAY, BULLITT, and LE MANS, which would be fertile ground for a big screen envisioning. James Gray, director of THE IMMIGRANT, has been said to be interested in the project while actors ranging from Jeremy Renner, Channing Tatum, and Ryan Gosling have considered playing McQueen. Personally, I would go with Gosling as the guy exudes the same demeanor as McQueen did and is a heck of an actor.
There is nothing set in stone at this point as the hunt begins for a screenwriter to adapt MCQUEEN. Who would you like to see direct or star in the film?