Tom Hardy

When Pablo Larraín made his English-language debut with last year’s Jackie, many wondered what a Chilean director could bring to such a story embedded in American politics and history. Of course, he proved himself by making a historical drama better than what most American directors have done when it comes to biopics of similarly iconic figures. With a new film, he’s looking to test expectations again, and that’s just judging by the title.

The Neruda director is attached to helm The True American, which Kathryn Bigelow was planning to direct a few years back. Starring Tom Hardy, it’s an adaptation of the Anand Giridharadas‘ novel The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas, telling the true story of a Bangladeshi immigrant who was attacked after a Texas man went on a murder spree following the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Bigelow will now take a producing role, alongside Megan Ellison‘s Annapurna Pictures. It sounds like perfectly fitting, dark material for Larraín to tackle, so as we await more details, check out the synopsis below and pick up the book on Amazon.

THE TRUE AMERICAN meticulously reconstructs two lives that collided in horrific fashion. In the charged, angry days after 9/11, self-styled “American Terrorist” Mark Stroman murdered two immigrants in Texas, while a third man survived being shot in the head during Stroman’s spree: Raisuddin Bhuiyan, a Bangladesh Air Force veteran, was working at a Dallas-area convenience store as he established himself in America. With Stroman identified and apprehended, the tale begins its tack toward deeper emotional waters. THE TRUE AMERICAN is a richly detailed, affecting account of two men bound, as it turns out, by more than just an act of violence.

Read More: Pablo Larraín’s 10 Favorite Films

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