Ridley Scott Directing “The Cartel” Adaptation

20th Century Fox has taken on the rights for “The Cartel,”, of the book by author Don Winslow (“Savages”) which Ridley Scott has come aboard to to direct.

The drugs kingpin epic closes out the story that began in Winslow’s 2006 novel “The Power of the Dog,” with both books dealing with the drug war and the struggle between DEA agent Art Keller and Mexican drug kingpin Adan Berrera.

In “Dog”, Keller befriends Berrera on his way up the ranks. In ‘Cartel’, Berrera escapes prison and a bloody feud breaks out. Leonardo DiCaprio is being courted to play the role of Keller.

Fox is said to have handed out a commitment of nearly $6 million for book rights and screenwriting fees to both “Cartel” and “Dog” with Shane Salerno penning the script.

Source: [Deadline]