Universal Pictures has acquiredJosh Dean’sThe Atavist articleentitledThe Life and Times of the Stopwatch Gang, which hasMiles Tellerattached to star andRuben Fleischer(Zombieland) set to direct. The article chronicles the true story of a group of Canadian bank robbers known as The Stopwatch Gang, who crossed the border into America to rob more than 100 banks, without ever having to fire a gun. The criminals got away with over $10 million, andJosh Dean’s article breaks down the history of the group and how they got away with their crimes. Here’s the official description ofThe Atavist articlebelow
“They were in and out in less than two minutes-that’s how they got away with millions. And for the duration of their reign, no bank robbers were more feared (though they never fired their guns) nor more pursued or more mythologized than the Stopwatch Gang. The members themselves were straight out of central casting: Lionel Wright, a meticulous introvert who could disappear in a room full of people; Paddy Mitchell, a charming and well-connected crook who saw an angle in everything and would go to any lengths to avoid the hell of being locked away; and Stephen Reid, a fearless point man who could find the weakness in any system and whose story-of addiction and descent into crime, of redemption and literary fame-was all prelude to a tragic but life-saving fall from grace.
InThe Life and Times of the Stopwatch Gang,Josh Deanreconstructs the Gang’s glory days and reveals how the real story, pieced together through months of research and reporting most prominently with Reid himself, as he comes to the end, at age 64, of his final days in the custody of the state-is more remarkable than the myth that has long been told.”
It isn’t known whoMiles Tellerwill play at this point, or if a screenwriter has come aboard to adapt the article.Scott Stuberand Dylan Clark are producing through their Bluegrass Films company, along withMiles TellerandRuben Fleischer, with The Atavist foundersEvan RatliffandJefferson Rabbserving as executive producers.Miles Telleris coming off starring in the Best Picture nomineeWhiplash, and he will next be seen inThe Divergent Series: Allegiant: Part 1andFantastic Fourlater this year.
