Competing films about the Boston Marathon bombing are off and running, and CBS Films has found a director and potential star for its iteration of the tragic events. Variety reports that Lone Survivor and Friday Night Lights director Peter Berg is in final negotiations to take the helm of Patriots’ Day, which was scripted by Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies) and is based on the account of Boston Police commissioner Ed Davis. Berg will also produce the film alongside Mark Wahlberg, who is circling the role of Davis—though scheduling conflicts may ultimately prevent him from starring in the film.

Patriots’ Day will be a collaboration between CBS Films and 60 Minutes, with senior producer Michael Radutzky serving as a producer on the pic. The movie is not only based on the life rights of Davis, but will also utilize other details surrounding the event based on the 60 Minutes story in which Davis appeared.

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Image via Universal

Berg has been drawn to real-life dramas as of late, in the wake of his potential blockbuster play with the disappointing yet somewhat underrated Battleship. He and Wahlberg teamed successfully on the war drama Lone Survivor and are currently working together on Deepwater Horizon, a Perfect Storm-esque drama about the 2010 oil rig explosion and subsequent spill. Berg is directing that picture, which is in production in anticipation of a September 30, 2016 release date, and he and Wahlberg are also developing The Six Billion Dollar Man.


So Berg signing on to Patriots’ Day fits with his recent “true events”-infused career trajectory, but it’s not the only movie about the events surrounding the Boston Marathon bombing that’s in the works. Lionsgate is also developing Stronger with Jake Gyllenhaal eyeing the lead and David Gordon Green (Prince Avalanche) poised to direct, so it’ll be interesting to see which project hits theaters first.

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Image via Universal