Alongside Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon and Alessandro Nivola, the growing ensemble is joined by Mireille Enos (The Killing), Kris Polaha (Mad Men) and Collette Wolfe (Young Adult). Also set to join are Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone) and Dane DeHaan (Chronicle), who are currently in talks to work around their potentially conflicting summer schedules.
The story centres on the brutal murders of three young Arkansas boys and the infamous fallout that began with the arrest of three local teenagers who were rumoured to have satanic leanings. Spanning nearly two decades, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. and Jason Baldwin faced life imprisonment and, in the case of Echols, the death penalty.
In 2011 the men were freed on a bitter-sweet legality, based on their admissions of guilt. The West Memphis Three, no doubt pretty sought after roles, will be played by newcomer James Hamrick (Echols), Kristopher Higgins (Misskelley, Jr.) and Justin Castor (Baldwin).
The film is based on the Mara Leveritt book and will bring both familiar and lesser known characters to the fore, as this will be the fifth film about the traumatic events. Previously, the Paradise Lost films, a trilogy of HBO documentaries, helmed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, made a vital impact in bringing to light the questionable legal proceedings and incarceration of the teens. Last year's West of Memphis, the Peter Jackson produced and Amy Berg directed documentary, also presented its version of events.
Devil's Knot will be the first dramatic account of the story and begins shooting in Georgia on June 25th, due for release 2013.
Source: Deadline
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