MOVIE NEWS: Idris Elba joins Robert Pattinson and cast in Harmony Korine's "The Trap"

MOVIE NEWS: Idris Elba joins Robert Pattinson and cast in Harmony Korine's "The Trap"

It's been awhile since we had news about this film. In fact, last time we reported on it, Jamie Foxx was attached and now he's being replaced.



The Hollywood Reporter:

Focus Features is in final talks to to prebuy U.S. rights to Harmony Korine's The Trap, a revenge tale set against the backdrop of the Miami music scene starring Idris Elba as a gangster rap artist and Benicio Del Toro as his best friend who took the fall for a robbery the duo committed years earlier. 

Elba is attached to replace Jamie Foxx, with Al Pacino, Robert Pattinson and James Franco also in final talks to join the cast (Del Toro was announced last year). 

Korine, who is repped by CAA, has been a hot commodity since the indie hit Spring Breakers, also starring Franco. Grisbi's John Lesher, producer of the Oscar-winning Birdman, is producing Korine's latest outing alongside Charles-Marie Anthonioz at Iconoclast and Marc Schmidheiny at DCM Film. 

Focus declined comment but sources say negotiations are at an advanced stage. CAA is arranging financing and representing domestic rights. 

In more good news for The Trap, Lionsgate is handling the movie internationally and will likely shop the project to foreign buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. 

In The Trap, written by Korine, Rico is at the top of his career and about to enjoy a triumphant night at the Grammy Awards when Slim (Del Toro) is released from prison after 14 years. Slim is determined to exact revenge after learning that Rico not only achieved fame and fortune but also married his girlfriend and raised Slim's son as his own. 

Slim's plot includes recruiting a crew of Uzi-wielding surfers led by Max (Pattinson), as well as enlisting the help of Rico's cocaine-happy manager (Franco). Pacino plays Slim's parole officer. 

Elba, who is represented by WME, is next in theaters with Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1). He also stars in African war drama Beasts of No Nation, which was recently acquired by Netflix and is slated to debut on the streaming service and in select theaters this fall timed to awards season. 

Pacino is repped by UTA and manager Rick Nicita. Pattinson is repped by WME and 3 Arts Entertainment; Franco by CAA and Untitled Entertainment.

UPDATE: Collider says production is on track to begin this summer in Miami.

I love that Focus Features is also looking to pre-buy this title for the US. Distribution of Rob's indies is a contentious issue with me. And HOH! Al Pacino??? That's fantastic!

And we so know Rob will be ready for a surfing role. ;)

We'll keep you posted on the news and you can follow our movie account for the film on twitter: @TheTrap_Film