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After tackling the respective comic book movies Fantastic Four and Man of Steel, Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon have signed on to star in a feature adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s classic novel FAHRENHEIT 451 that is in development at HBO, the Tracking Board has confirmed.
Ramin Bahrani (99 Homes) is directing from a script he co-wrote with Amir Naderi, and he’s also executive producing under his Noruz Films banner.
Originally published in 1953, Fahrenheit 451 is set in a future where books are outlawed and “firemen” burn any that are found, though intellectual curiosity gets the better of the protagonist, who begins stashing books away to see if he can learn anything from them.
In addition to executive producing the project, Jordan will play the young fireman Montag, while Shannon will play Captain Beatty, his boss and mentor.
David Coatsworth is producing the film, which is also being executive produced by Alan Gasmer and Peter Jaysen, as well as Sarah Green of Brace Cove Productions.
Fahrenheit 451 is still in early development, but it would be surprising if HBO opted not to move forward with the project after securing big-name talent like Jordan and Shannon.
HBO’s newest original film, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, will debut on the network this weekend.
Jordan is represented by WME and MGMT Entertainment, while Shannon is repped by CAA and Wetzel Entertainment.
Jeff Sneider | Editor in Chief
