"Crazy Heart" writer-director Scott Cooper will direct Relativity Media's "Out of the 
Furnace," based on a spec script the studio bought in 2008.
Originally called "The Low Dweller," Relativity has had the project for about three years. On Monday it closed a deal to have Cooper take over the project.
Brad Ingelsby's original script, which Relativity paid $650,000 against $1.1 million, is about a man who, after being released from prison, wants to marry his girlfriend, but finds himself avenging his brother's murder.
Here's Relativity's announcement:
Scott Cooper to Direct Relativity’s Out of the Furnace
Production Targeted for 2011
(Beverly Hills, CA) April 11, 2011 – Relativity Media has closed a deal with Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) to write and direct their upcoming Out of the Furnace, announced Relativity’s President of Worldwide Production Tucker Tooley. Production is targeted to start sometime in 2011.
Cooper, known for writing, producing and directing the highly-acclaimed, Oscar®-winning Crazy Heart, will direct the film based on the story from The Low Dweller by Brad Ingelsby (The Dynamiter).
Out of the Furnace, a gritty throwback to films of the 1970’s, follows an ex-con, who once released from prison, is given no choice but to avenge the death of his brother.
“Scott Cooper drew raw emotion from the story and inspired amazing performances from his actors in Crazy Heart. We are excited for him to shepherd this project,” says Relativity President of Worldwide Production, Tucker Tooley.
Alongside Relativity, the film is being produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Ridley and Tony Scott’s Scott Free with Energy Entertainment.
Relativity currently has box office hit Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish and Oscar®-winner Robert De Niro, in theatres. Looking ahead, the studio has popular book series adaptation Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer debuting on June 10th, followed by David R. Ellis’ Shark Night 3-D releasing on September 2nd. The highly-anticipated Immortals will release on November 11th, starring Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Isabel Lucas, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, with John Hurt and Mickey Rourke. The studio is about to begin production on a yet-to-be titled Snow White film starring Lily Collins as Snow White, Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts as the queen and Armie Hammer as the prince.