It appears that there are now two competing feature films on the way based on the fatal Boston Marathon bombing that occurred nearly two years ago. Deadline today brings word that, in addition to 20th Century Fox’s Boston Strong, CBS Films is developing Patriot’s Day with Mark Wahlberg looking to star as Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. According to the outlet, Patriot’s Day will relate the tragedy and ensuing manhunt through Davis’ perspective with Bridge of Spies scribe Matt Charman providing the screenplay based on both Davis’ own accounts of events and on research provided by “60 Minutes.”
Boston Strong, meanwhile, is set to be directed by Safe House‘s Daniel Espinosa and has Casey Affleck attached to headline. Oddly enough, Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy, two of the three writers behind Wahlberg’s Oscar-winning boxing drama The Fighter, are working on the rival project, based on the book by Casey Sherman and Boston Herald reporter Dave Wedge.
Wahlberg, who recently starred in both The Gambler and Transformers: Age of Extinction, will next reprise his role as John Bennett in writer/director/star Seth MacFarlane’s Ted 2.
Wahlberg also plans to produce Patriot’s Day alongside Dylan Clark, Stephen Levinson and Michael Radutzky and Scott Stuber. Nicholas Nesbitt will serve as executive producer.
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