MORGAN FREEMAN news
Freeman to star in "Wanted" with James McAvoy

Source: Variety

November 7, 2006


Morgan Freeman is in final negotiations to star opposite James McAvoy in Universal Pictures' "Wanted," a sci-fi actioner that will mark the English-language debut of Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov.

"Wanted" is based on a comic book miniseries by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones published by Top Cow. The story follows a put-upon man (McAvoy) who discovers that his long-lost father is an assassin. After his dad is murdered, the son is recruited into a covert organization of killers and trained to follow in his father's footsteps.

Freeman will play Sloan, the lead assassin who trains McAvoy.

Universal-based Marc Platt is producing with Jason Netter and Jim Lemley. Top Cow's Marc Silvestri is exec producing along with Adam Siegel.

The script was penned by Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, who wrote Universal's "2 Fast 2 Furious." Chris Morgan ("The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift") also wrote the scrip

WMA-repped Freeman won a best supporting actor Oscar for "Million Dollar Baby." He recently wrapped "Evan Almighty" and next appears in "10 Items or Less."