Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy, the Oscar-nominated screenwriters behind David O. Russell's THE FIGHTER, have just optioned the book "Boston Strong" by Casey Sherman and Boston Herald reporter Dave Wedge with an eye towards adapting it for the big screen. The book "examines the city’s reaction to the fatal April 15 Patriots’ Day attacks at the Boston Marathon finsh line and the hunt for the siblings suspecting of carrying out the bombings." The book is currently being written and will be released next year by University Press.
The horrific event was captured almost moment-by-moment by the news media, with many of the aftereffects of the bombing, including the capture of the two suspects, playing out much like a Hollywood thriller, including car chases, shoot outs, and a lot of cat and mouse in a manhunt that sprawled across the city. I'm sure many will feel this is a case of "too soon," and they may be right, but it's hard to say just what the timetable is for adapting such events. However, I don't think history should ignore such tragedies by keeping them out of the spotlight. There have been many historical films to respectfully and truthfully depict tragic or trying events, such as SCHINDLER'S LIST, UNITED 93, BLACKHAWK DOWN, APOLLO 13, etc.
Aside from THE FIGHTER, Johnson and Tamasy also penned the screenplay for Sherman and Michael J. Tougias’ 2009 book THE FINEST HOURS, about a 1952 Coast Guard oil tanker rescue in 2011, which currently has Robert Schwentke (R.I.P.D.) set to direct.
More as this develops.
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