Jeremy Renner Developing Steve McQueen Biopic for Director Ivan Zacharias

Jeremy Renner, who will eventually star in every major franchise in Hollywood, has formed his own production company and is in the process of developing a biopic based on “The King of Cool”, actor Steve McQueen.  According to Risky Business, the biopic will be a starring vehicle for Renner with James Gray (Two Lovers) writing the script and commercial director Ivan Zacharias making his feature directing debut on the project.  Gray will base his script off two books by Marshall Terrill: Portrait of an American Rebel and The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon.

Hit the jump for my thoughts on the biopic as well as a brief refresher on Renner’s other projects.

Biopics are always tricky business and while I’m sure Renner could pull off a convincing portrayal of McQueen, I have serious doubts about Gray crafting a script that doesn’t fall into the same tired biopic structure of rise, personal turmoil (of which McQueen had plenty), fall, redemption.

The question is where this biopic could fall in Renner’s busy schedule.  He recently shot Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, he’s about to shoot his role as Hawkeye in The Avengers (if he hasn’t started already), he’s recently signed on to star in Tony Gilroy’s The Bourne Legacy, on Tuesday he signed on to do voice work for Ice Age: Continental Drift, he’s got the indie thriller Better Living Through Chemistry, and he may co-star in Sheldon Turner’s By Virtue Fall.  He’s also co-starring in the upcoming Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and is reportedly being set up to take the reins of that franchise from Tom Cruise.  I’m not sure where Renner finds time for a McQueen biopic but clearly it’s an important film for him so don’t expect this to sit on the backburner forever.