WhileSteven Soderbergh’s sabbatical from feature filmmaking yielded two magnificent seasons ofThe Knick, hisreturnto the film world could be just as exciting. It was announced today that theOcean’s Elevendirector is set to produce with an eye to direct a feature film about the Panama Papers, which was the biggest data leak in corporate and government history, for Anonymous Content and Grey Matter Productions.Scott Z. Burns, the screenwriter behind Soderbergh’sContagion,The Informant!, andSide Effectsas well as the filmmaker’snever-made iteration ofThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.is on screenwriting duties, working from journalist Jake Bernstein’s upcoming bookSecrecy Worldas source material.
As of yet Soderbergh is not formally set to direct, but it would mark a fascinating match of material and director if he decides to do so. This is firmly in the “recent history” realm as the Panama Papers only leaked this past April, at which time the intricacies of tax evasion and the overall financial structure of many governmental and corporate entities was revealed, with reverberations that are still being felt today.
But coming from the guy who directedThe Informant!, there’s no telling what kind of film this Panama Papers movie would be if Soderbergh does indeed decide to take the helm. A thrilling corporate intrigue drama? A scathing satire? A straight-up comedy?
Soderbergh is currently filming a new comedy feature film calledLogan Luckywith a star-studded cast that includesChanning Tatum,Adam Driver,Riley Keough, andDaniel Craig. He also recently wrapped post-production on a mysterious project for HBO calledMosaic, which may or may not be a movie, but starsGarrett HedlundandSharon Stone, and is producing directorGary Ross’female-drivenOcean’s Elevenspinoff.
WhileThe Knick’s Season 2 finale brought the show to a shocking conclusion, Soderbergh recently revealed that hehopes to return to helm the third and fourth seasonsif he and the writers can come up with an entirely new idea worth telling. If not, his other plan was to have another filmmaker take over and make the show their own with entirely new characters and locations.
Soderbergh is undoubtedly one of the most exciting filmmakers working today regardless of medium, so whether he ends up directing this Panama Papers movie or not, it’s exciting to see so much movement regarding his upcoming slate. Moreover, a reunion with a screenwriter as talented as Burns makes this film that much more enticing.
