The first look at Traffic scribe Stephen Gaghan’s first new film in a decade has arrived. Matthew McConaughey and Edgar Ramirez lead the cast of Gold, which is based on the true story of the Bre-X Mineral Corporation mining scandal and follows a struggling businessman who teams up with a hapless geologist to find gold in the Indonesian jungle. The first image isn’t anything too revelatory, but it’s nevertheless exciting to see that a new movie from Gaghan is finally on its way.
Scripted by Patrick Massett and John Zinman, Gold is a project that’s been percolating in Hollywood for years. Back in 2011, it was set up as a collaboration between writer Paul Haggis and director Michael Mann with Christian Bale courted to star. Then Spike Lee was the next filmmaker to come aboard, after which Gaghan eventually signed on and brought this thing to fruition once and for all. Gaghan won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for writing Steven Soderbergh’s groundbreaking drug war drama Traffic and was nominated again for his underrated directorial debut Syriana.
I’m curious to see how Gaghan handles what appears to be a more streamlined narrative as opposed to the ensembles of Traffic and Syriana, though given its true story roots this still feels like it's in Gaghan's wheelhouse. This is also a big project for McConaughey, as it’s only one of a few he’s signed on to after winning his Oscar. He next appears in Gus Van Sant's drama Sea of Trees and recently wrapped Gary Ross' Civil War drama The Free State of Jones. And Ramirez is poised to break out in a big way after first making waves for his leading turn on the miniseries Carlos. He’ll next be seen opposite Jennifer Lawrence in David O. Russell’s Joy, opening this Christmas.
Take a look at the Gold image below, via The Weinstein Company. Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Bruce Greenwood, and Toby Kebbell also star. The Weinstein Company will release the film sometimes in Fall 2016.
