Ridley Scott to make film about Mexicos El Chapo

Don Winslow’s crime novel The Cartel has benefitted from two very important boosts – one, it’s fantastic, a layered, gripping story that blends fact and fiction about a compelling subject, and two, the subject himself, drug cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán escaped from prison again a few days ago. Scott will direct the film and also produce through his production company Scott Free Films.

From the internationally best-selling author of the acclaimed novel The Power of the Dog comes The Cartel, a gripping, true-to-life, ripped-from-the-headlines epic story of power, corruption, revenge, and justice spanning the past decade of the Mexican-American drug wars.

The “Blade Runner” and “Alien” filmmaker will adapt “The Cartel” by Don Winslow, published just a month before the July 12 announcement that Guzman had escaped for the second time in 14 years, said the Hollywood Reporter.

The book, released in June, chronicles the cat-and-mouse conflict between DEA agent Art Keller and Mexican drug billionaire Adán Barrera, detailing the unconscionable, bloody swath of violence his trade cuts through Mexico, destroying rivals and innocents alike. Finally putting Barrera away cost Keller dearly-the woman he loves, the beliefs he cherishes, the life he wants to lead. Deadline reports that Leonardo DiCaprio is being considered for a starring role in the movie. Salerno previously provided the screenplay for Oliver Stone’s recent Winslow adaptation, Savages.