Gibson tracking motorcycle gang

 Posted on September 12, 2024  |  4 minutes  |  790 words  |  Reinaldo Massengill

'Alone' moves to forefront after Iraq conflict halts 'Max'

With his “Mad Max” sequel stalled, Mel Gibson has found a new chopper.

Gibson is negotiating with Warner Bros. Pictures to star in “Under and Alone,” an action drama based on the true story of ATF undercover agent Billy Queen, who infiltrated the notorious and violent Mongols Motorcycle Club. Gibson’s Icon Prods. will produce.

Gibson and Fox had planned to shoot “Mad Max: Fury Road” in Namibia in July. But concerns over the war in Iraq put that pic on hold (Daily Variety, Feb. 27).

Ned Zeman and Daniel Barnz have made a high-six against mid-seven-figure deal to write the script for “Under and Alone.”

Producing is Icon president Bruce Davey and senior VP of features Kevin Lake, who brought it into Icon. Warners VP of production Dan Lin brought the project into the studio.

Related Stories

The YouTube logo wrapped inbetween the Netflix logo VIP+

How YouTube and Netflix Copied Each Other’s Homework

Secret Level

'Secret Level' Director Tim Miller and Epic Games Execs Talk Hollywood's Relationship With Unreal Engine as Version 5.5 Launches

Also part of the deal were life rights for Queen as well as an option on his autobiography “Under and Alone,” skedded to be published in June by Random House.

Popular on Variety

All elements of the package were repped by ICM, which tracked down Queen through the Witness Protection Program after seeing a news item about his story.

Zeman and Barnz wrote “Emperor Zehnder,” which is based on a piece that Zeman wrote for Vanity Fair. Richard Gere is attached to topline for Disney. The writers are penning “Sugar Kings” at Universal, with Bill Condon attached to direct and overseeing development.

Queen was an ATF veteran who joined the Mongols’ San Fernando Valley branch and in 2½ years rose through the ranks to become club treasurer, despite being subjected to a background check by a private investigator who worked for the Mongols.

The ATF moved on the Mongols in May 2000, resulting in the arrest of more than three dozen people in Southern California and seizing dozens of illegal guns as well as cocaine and stolen motorcycles. Authorities also suspected the Mongols of crimes that included murder, extortion, arson, weapons violations and illegal drug dealing. The Mongols made headlines last year after getting into a firefight with the Hell’s Angels in Laughlin, Nev., that left three people dead and 12 injured.

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXF%2Fjp%2BgpaVfoq6zt8StqmaelajBqsLApapon5mXwLC6jK2pmpubnruoecyoq6iqk66wrbGMoJinn11mfnKDl3JpcW9hZA%3D%3D