WB in talks to acquire Dangerous Odds adaptation starring Margot Robbie

January 23rd 2015, 11:23am

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

The Wrap has learned Warner Bros. is close to landing the movie rights to the Marisa Lankester memoir Dangerous Odds: My Secret Life Inside an Illegal Billion Dollar Sports Betting Operation, and THE WOLF OF WALL STREET's Margot Robbie will play Lankester in the planned movie. Several studios were trying to acquire DANGEROUS ODDS, however it does appear the project is heading to Warner Bros.

Although no director has been announced, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON and WORLD TRADE CENTER screenwriter Andrea Berloff will adapt Marisa Lankester’s memoir.

From Amazon:

DANGEROUS ODDS is the explosive, never been told, behind the scenes look into the world of illegal sports betting, revealed by an insider, who happens to be a woman. Marisa Lankester, a young beauty with a privileged New York upbringing, stumbles into the backdoor of the largest illegal sports betting organization in the U.S., run by Ron The Cigar Sacco. Marisa, a thrill seeker, maneuvers herself into this mob run men only bookmaking operation and with her looks and brains, becomes a trusted insider.

Along the way, Marisa falls in love with Sacco's business partner, charismatic Tony. In an attempt to evade the wrath of the FBI, Marisa and Tony relocate Sacco's operation from Los Angeles first to Las Vegas and then to the Dominican Republic where gambling is legal. What begins as a fun and exciting ride on the Caribbean island, where the tall, blond beauty also becomes a top model, morphs into a twisted nightmare. It is also the romantic tale of a beautiful, smart young woman whose love for a charismatic and handsome Italian-American leads her down the road into crime, incarceration and rape.

DANGEROUS ODDS sounds like it could be the type of project that will give Margot Robbie a chance to prove she's more than just a (very) pretty face. Have any of you read the Marisa Lankester book, and what are your thoughts on Robbie playing Lankester?

Margot Robbie can be seen next starring alongside Will Smith in Glenn Ficarra and John Requa's (I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS) FOCUS on February 27, 2015.