Eric Bogosian’s ‘Mall’ In Movie Crosshairs With Vincent D’Onofrio, Chelsea Handler
EXCLUSIVE: Law & Order: Criminal Intent star Vincent D’Onofrio is the catalyst for a film adaptation of the 2001 Eric Bogosian novel Mall. The film will mark the feature directing debut of Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn, and will star D’Onofrio, Chelsea Handler and Bogosian. D’Onofrio is producing with partner Erika Hampson and The Collective’s Sam Maydew. D’Onofrio also wrote the script with Joe Vinciguerra and Sam Bisbee. The film follows the intersecting paths of five disaffected suburbanites: a stoner teen, a restless housewife (a dark role to be played by Handler), a voyeuristic businessman (D’Onofrio), a mall security guard and a trigger-happy crystal meth addict who heads to the mall looking for trouble. Bogosian will play a store owner.
“This film will be a comment on social violence,” D’Onofrio said in a statement. “It begins as a man walks through the front door of a suburban mall armed to the teeth, causing five strangers to embark on a night that will change them forever. As the bullets fly, one teenage boy hurtles through the night on a collision course with the man he will become.”
When Hahn is onstage with Linkin Park, he’s the guy behind the turntables, responsible for the sampling, beats and sounds that help distinguish the group. He has also influenced the band from behind the camera, directing many of the band’s videos, including the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen theme, and another for the upcoming Transformers: Dark of the Moon. He has directed vids for bands that include Static-X and Story of the Year, and helmed the short The Seed. UTA is raising the financing for the film with a packaging assist from The Collective, which reps D’Onofrio and Linkin Park.
As a huge Eric Bogosian fan, I can say that “Mall” was not a high-point in the author’s career. That said, maybe they’ll be able to squeeze something out of this that makes it better.
I, for one, would love to see an adaptation of Bogosian’s “Notes from Underground.” Preferably directed by Lodge Kerrigan.
That’s exactly what I was thinking, so hopefully D’Onofrio and company have improved it.
I was interested until I read, ‘a dark role to be played by Chelsea Handler.’ Then all interest died. Also, ‘Mall’ sounds a lot like Bogosian’s ‘Suburbia,’ which wasn’t terribly good as a film.
I’ve been a fan of Joe Hahn’s work for many years now, not just as a musician but as a director. I think he’s one of the few music video directors who can tell a story along with being visually stunning.
I liked Mall. It was a little goofy and overwrought at times, but I still dug it.
Wow. An intriguing project. I really think Chelsea Handler will be able to pull of a darker role such as this one, and I look forward to seeing this.
this is so stupid putting this chick in anything, she can’t act at all.
Congratulations, Eric and Vince. The LOCI tribe wishes you all the best.
What an odd cast. Let’s hope Handler’s acting is more than the one dimensional comedian she plays on tv. Her stand-up is terrible if you’ve never seen her live. Terrible. Let’s hope acting is more her calling.
Are these guys kidding?
Even when the novel came out, it was dated, overwrought, simplistic and condescending. Bogosian’s 1970′s hipster sneering take on the world is incredibly tiresome.
I can’t stop seeing Vince in his role in “Full Metal Jacket” no matter what part he plays.
Read (actually, don’t) Perforated Heart for a real let-down.
this is a big step! Joe is a labour man! my pespect!