Johannesburg - Two Hollywood actors will soon breathe life into the characters Bennie Griessel and Mat Joubert, the two Cape Town detectives from the pen of Deon Meyer.
Danish actor Lars Mikkelson has just signed his name on the dotted line and Meyer is very pleased about this development.
A German film company, All in Production, obtained the rights to the Mat Joubert trilogy, of which the first book, Dead Before Dying will possibly be filmed in Cape Town early next year, Meyer said.
"Lars' interpretation in The Killing, a huge hit on BBC, was phenomenal. He will make an excellent Mat Joubert."
Negotiations
Rumours have also surfaced that British actor Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones) will tackle the dreaded Afrikaans accent in the name of Benny Griessel and that he will start filming scenes for Thirteen Hours (13 Uur) by the end of this year.
British producers Malcolm Kohll and Robert Fig have acquired the rights to the trilogy, but doesn't want to reveal anything yet regarding the identity of the lead role.
Kohll did, however, confirm with Meyer that negotiations with former 007 director Roger Spottiswoode (Tomorrow Never Dies, Turner & Hooch) are nearly finalised.
SA actor
A bit of good news for local talent is that a "brilliant South African male actor" has landed a role in Dead Before Dying.
Meyer is still receiving criticism for the fact that Hollywood actors play the lead roles in his famous stories.
"The producers asked my opinion on which local actor I see in a particular role and then suggested someone whom I admire greatly," he said.
Although Meyer's toes start itching with excitement, he is "cautiously optimistic" about what the future holds for his Cape heroes.
South Africans can certainly ready themselves for two local crime movies of international quality, Meyer said.
Danish actor Lars Mikkelson has just signed his name on the dotted line and Meyer is very pleased about this development.
A German film company, All in Production, obtained the rights to the Mat Joubert trilogy, of which the first book, Dead Before Dying will possibly be filmed in Cape Town early next year, Meyer said.
"Lars' interpretation in The Killing, a huge hit on BBC, was phenomenal. He will make an excellent Mat Joubert."
Negotiations
Rumours have also surfaced that British actor Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones) will tackle the dreaded Afrikaans accent in the name of Benny Griessel and that he will start filming scenes for Thirteen Hours (13 Uur) by the end of this year.
British producers Malcolm Kohll and Robert Fig have acquired the rights to the trilogy, but doesn't want to reveal anything yet regarding the identity of the lead role.
Kohll did, however, confirm with Meyer that negotiations with former 007 director Roger Spottiswoode (Tomorrow Never Dies, Turner & Hooch) are nearly finalised.
SA actor
A bit of good news for local talent is that a "brilliant South African male actor" has landed a role in Dead Before Dying.
Meyer is still receiving criticism for the fact that Hollywood actors play the lead roles in his famous stories.
"The producers asked my opinion on which local actor I see in a particular role and then suggested someone whom I admire greatly," he said.
Although Meyer's toes start itching with excitement, he is "cautiously optimistic" about what the future holds for his Cape heroes.
South Africans can certainly ready themselves for two local crime movies of international quality, Meyer said.