Taken director now in ‘Pursuit’ of conflict photographer action biopic

Universal has attached Pierre Morel, who directed Liam Neeson’s surprise action hit Taken, to helm the film Pursuit, based on the early career of conflict photographer Jason Howe, according to Variety.

While Howe’s recent work has been in Iraq, a large part of his early career was spent in South American countries, including Chile, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Colombia, the country where he fell in love with a woman who turned out to be an assassin. That story that will be at the center of the movie.

Pursuit will be produced by Captivate Entertainment’s Jeffrey Weiner and Ben Smith, who also control the rights to a library of Robert Ludlum thrillers, including the Jason Bourne series of films.

According to the report, Morel, who honed his skills as a camera operator and cinematographer before taking the director’s chair, was drawn by Howe’s courageous photo work, and saw his real-life ethical dilemma as great inspiration for a fictionalized thriller.