Phillip Noyce to Direct Thriller THE ARRANGEMENT

Phillip Noyce is set to direct the thriller The Arrangement. THR reports that Noyce has inked a deal to helm the pic for Mandate Pictures, with a script written by Brian Tucker. The story centers on an interracial married couple—the husband is white while the wife is half-black half-white—“whose unity is tested when another man, who happens to be black, takes a liking to the wife and begins to create problems.” There are no other details on the plot at this time, but Tucker is said to “write post-Obama stories that force audiences to question themselves,” so it certainly sounds like Noyce will be tackling some racial themes.

The Clear and Present Danger director was previously attached to the submarine action-thriller Hunter Killer but he recently dropped out. Noyce is poised to direct the romantic sci-fi drama Timeless with Liam Hemsworth in the lead role, but it’s unknown if plans on helming The Arrangement before that pic. Tucker also scripted Allen Hughes’ upcoming Broken City with Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe.