Jake Gyllenhaal will reteam with “Life” director Daniel Espinosa on an indie “The Anarchists vs ISIS,” an adaptation of a Rolling Stone story about American volunteers who fought alongside Kurdish militia members in Syria.
Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker’s Ninestories production shingle have joined with Bold Films to option Seth Harp’s Rolling Stone article, with Espinosa set to direct and produce under his newly formed BOZI banner.
Bold Films’ Chairman Michel Litvak will also produce and CEO Gary Michael Walters will executive produce. Gyllenhaal is expected to star.
The fact-based story will follow a group of American volunteers, socialists and outcasts who join forces with the Kurdish militia known as the YPG to fight ISIS in Syria and establish an anarchist collective amid the rubble of war.
Marker said in a statement: “Jake and I are thrilled to partner with Daniel Espinosa on Seth Harp’s daring story. Thematically, we’re often attracted to material about the search for identity, especially in a world where it’s become easier to feel less and less connected. Seth’s story is about people who abandon everything that’s familiar as a means to connect in the most brutal of circumstances.”
Bold Films’ Chairman Michel Litvak added, “In a very short time under the leadership of Jake and Riva, Ninestories has become an incredibly exciting production company. Their vision for fresh and provocative material coupled with brilliant filmmakers like Daniel Espinosa aligns perfectly with Bold’s mandate.”
The deal was negotiated by Bloom Hergott on behalf of Ninestories and Gyllenhaal, by WME on behalf of Ninestories, Gyllenhaal and Espinosa and by UTA on behalf of Alex Jacobs at Elyse Cheney Associates for Seth Harp. Espinosa is repped by WME and Shelley Browning of Magnolia Entertainment.
The Evolution of Jake Gyllenhaal: From 'Bubble Boy' to 'Life' (Photos)
"Bubble Boy" (2001) One of Gyllenhaal's earliest film credits is as Jimmy Livingston -- a boy without an immune system who lives in a bubble -- in "Bubble Boy"
Buena Vista Pictures
"Donnie Darko" (2001) Perhaps one of Gyllenhaal's most notable roles, the actor stars as the titular character in this cult classic about a troubled teenager with disturbing visions
Newmarket Films
"The Good Girl" (2002) In "The Good Girl," Gyllenhaal plays Holden, the love interest of Jennifer Aniston's character Justine Last. The two start an affair while working together at a local department store
Fox Searchlight Pictures
"Moonlight Mile" (2003) After Joe Nast's (Gyllenhaal) fiancée Diana Floss was murdered in a shooting, he opts to stay with her parents and mourn her loss together
Buena Vista Pictures
"The Day After Tomorrow" (2004) In this sci-fi flick, Gyllenhaal plays Sam Hall -- a baby-faced teenager visiting Manhattan when disastrous weather strikes
20th Century Fox
"Brokeback Mountain" (2005) Gyllenhaal plays Heath Ledger's lover Jack Twist in one of the most innovative films of all time. The two gay cowboys earned several Academy Awards nods.
Focus Features
"Jarhead" (2005) Gyllenhaal stars as real-life United States Marine Anthony Swofford who is deployed to fight in the Gulf War
Universal Pictures
"Zodiac" (2007) In "Zodiac," Gyllenhaal's character Robert Graysmith is fascinated by a notorious serial killer in San Francisco. He later goes on to pen a book about the self-named Zodiac killer, though the murders remain unsolved
Paramount Pictures
"Brothers" (2009) Gyllenhaal stars opposite Tobey Maguire in "Brothers," a story about a Marine with intense post-traumatic stress disorder
Lionsgate
"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2010) The actor stars as Dastan in this adventure action fantasy film based on the video game, as Gyllenhaal proves he is capable of taking on a macho persona in an action flick
Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
"Love & Other Drugs" (2010) In "Love & Other Drugs," he plays Jamie Randall -- a successful Viagra salesman and Anne Hathaway's love interest
20th Century Fox
"Prisoners" (2013) Gyllenhaal stars as Detective Loki, a somber character who is tasked with the safe return of two girls who go missing
Warner Bros. Pictures
"Nightcrawler" (2014) Gyllenhaal portrays Louis "Lou" Bloom in "Nightcrawler" -- a freelance cameraman who shoots crime scenes. Oftentimes, he tampers with evidence for the sake of a better, more profitable shot
Open Road Films
"Enemy" (2014) Gyllenhaal is his own co-star in "Enemy," a psychological thriller about one identical twin who stalks the other
A24 Films
"Southpaw" (2015) The actor plays down-and-out boxer Billy Hope in "Southpaw." The fighter undergoes an inspiring comeback story after the death of his wife (Rachel McAdams)
The Weinstein Company
"Demolition" (2016)
The actor plays a young finance exec who goes into a tailspin while mourning the sudden death of his wife.
Fox Searchlight
"Nocturnal Animals" (2014)
The actor played dual roles in Tom Ford's acclaimed thriller, as both struggling novelist (and ex-husband of Amy Adams' gallery owner) as well as the protagonist of that writer's creepy novel.
Focus Features
"Sunday in the Park With George" (2017)
Gyllenhaal starred with Annaleigh Ashford in a Broadway revival of the Stephen Sondheim musical as 19th-century French artist Georges Seurat.
"Life" (2017)
Gyllenhaal stars opposite Ryan Reynolds and Rebecca Ferguson as astronauts who discover life on Mars -- and it seems less than friendly to human visitors.
Sony
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The acclaimed actor is now starring opposite Ryan Reynolds in a new sci-fi thriller