CITY OF LIES (LAbyrinth) Updates

[Theresa]

So glad to hear this is a "go." Thanks for the articles Theresa.

A "go" and apparently pretty quick, too! One of those articles mentioned November...I hope so! It'll be good to get back to some filming normalcy. (and hopefully, some location filming with pictures!)

[justintime]

Hope Johnny doesn't feel he has to undergo a physical transformation to "become" the Russell Poole character. Would like to see him rely on his acting skills alone to breathe life into the Poole role.

[Gilbert's Girl]

Be interesting to see who plays the journalist.

[meeps]

Hope Johnny doesn't feel he has to undergo a physical transformation to "become" the Russell Poole character. Would like to see him rely on his acting skills alone to breathe life into the Poole role.

Seeing Russell Poole is a real person Johnny will probably want to look like him as much a possible as he did with Hunter and Bulger and so on. But they are not that far apart in appearance, as far as I can see, so it could be kept to a minimum
Picture of POOLE:

[momindeppcamp]

This looks like his kind of film. Hope he does well and hope it goes well for him
Thanks for the information.

[SnoopyDances]

Be interesting to see who plays the journalist.

[emma]

Source: Backstage

Production Info:

A detective investigating the murder of Notorious B.I.G. faces pushback from his own department when he discovers corruption and gang ties.

With Johnny Depp.

Produced by Good Films Ltd.

Shoots Nov. 15-Jan. 20 in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

[Theresa]

Thanks for the update, emma

Just one more month before things start getting busy -- for pics and Johnny-sightings!

[Ingrid 3]

Good news, thank you emma!

[emma]

Deadline.com

Rockmond Dunbar Joins Biggie-Tupac Thriller ‘LAbyrinth’
by Amanda N'Duka
November 11, 2016 10:53am

Rockmond Dunbar has joined the cast of Brad Furman’s LAbyrinth that stars Johnny Depp as Russell Poole, a disgraced L.A.P.D. detective who is unable to solve his biggest case: The murders of rap impresarios Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. He teams with Jack Jackson, a reporter determined to crack the case in desperation of saving his reputation and career. Relentless in their hunt for the truth, these two broken men threaten to crack the foundation of the L.A.P.D. all the while fighting for their own redemption. Open Road Films recently picked up distribution rights to the film, which was a Black List script, written by Christian Contreras and adapted from Randall Sullivan’s book of the same name. Miriam Segal and her Good Films label are producing. Dunbar, who will play Dreadlocks in the film, is currently a series regular on Hulu’s The Path, opposite Aaron Paul, and can next be seen in Prison Break’s sequel series, reprising his role of C-Note. He is repped by Levity Entertainment Group and Don Buchwald & Associates.

[Theresa]

Forest Whitaker Joins Johnny Depp In Tupac/Notorious BIG Murder Drama ‘LAbyrinth’

by Mike Fleming Jr
Deadline
November 16, 2016


EXCLUSIVE: Forest Whitaker has been set to star alongside Johnny Depp in LAbyrinth, the Brad Furman-directed drama about the investigation into the murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG. Depp plays a disgraced LAPD detective who is unable to solve his biggest case: the murders of the hip-hop icons. Whitaker will play the journalist who teams with the cop, each determined to find the truth, and each with a reason to seek redemption in an effort that sets them against the cops.

Open Road Films recently picked up distribution rights to the film, which started as a Black List script by Christian Contreras, adapted from Randall Sullivan’s book. Miriam Segal and her Good Films label are producing.

Whitaker, who just opened in the Denis Villenueve-directed Arrival, is in the midst of an exceptionally prolific cycle. He co-stars in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and just finished starring with Garrett Hedlund and Tom Wilkinson in Burden, the drama based on a true story about the KKK. Next up, he will play Bishop Desmond Tutu in the biopic The Forgiven, which also stars Eric Bana. After that, he joins Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong’o in the Ryan Coogler-directed Black Panther for Marvel next year.

Whitaker is repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.

[Sweeney Todd]

‘Straight Outta Compton’s Neil Brown Jr. Heads To ‘LAbyrinth’

by Amanda N'Duka
November 17, 2016 3:38pm

EXCLUSIVE: Neil Brown Jr., who played N.W.A’s DJ Yella in Straight Outta Compton, is the latest to be cast in the Biggie-Tupac crime thriller LAbyrinth. He joins stars Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker in the film about disgraced LAPD detective Russell Poole (Depp), who teams with journalist Jack Jackson (Whitaker), both seeking redemption and determined to find the truth behind the murders of rap impresarios. Their relentless hunt threatens to crack the foundation of the police department.

Brown will play Rafael Perez, the former dirty LAPD officer and central figure in the Rampart scandal, who was accused of murdering the Notorious B.I.G.

Brad Furman is directing the film, which was a 2015 Black List script by Christian Contreras, adapted from Randall Sullivan’s book. Miriam Segal of Good Films is producing and Open Road Films and Miramax are co-producing. Open Road will release the film sometime next year.

Brown is filming the Swedish remake film Naked for Netflix, which stars Marlon Wayans and Regina Hall. He also has another project with Netflix; the Fernando Coimbra-directed war drama Sandcastle with Logan Marshall-Green, Henry Cavill and Nicholas Hoult.

He is repped by David Dean Management and Don Buchwald & Associates.

[jruoss]

As the journalist, Whitaker is likely to have the most interaction with Johnny's character. A solid choice, these guys should make a good pair.
Whitaker also worked with Jim Jarmusch once, a movie called "Ghost Dog", which incidentally is the only other Jarmusch movie to feature an appearance by the Nobody character. He's been transported to a different time and place, but hasn't forgotten his catch phrase (stupid white man!).

[RumLover]

Forest Whitaker and Johnny were in Platoon 30 years ago.
Maybe they can reminisce like old army buddies.

[FANtasticJD]

Production begins on 'Labyrinth' starring Johnny Depp
13 December, 2016 | By Jeremy Kay

Good Films chief Miriam Segal said on Tuesday that shooting has begun in Los Angeles on the crime drama that also stars Forest Whitaker.

Screendaily was the first to announce the project and Depp’s involvement on the eve of Toronto.

Brad Furman directs and Xander Berkeley, Rockmund Dunbar, Toby Huss, Shea Whigham and Wynn Everett have joined the cast. Furman directed The Infiltrator for UK-founded, LA-based Good Films.

Christian Contreras adapted the screenplay from Randall Sullivan’s book of the same name, which centres on a disgraced LAPD detective.

When the man hooks up with a reporter, they set out to solve the murders of music icons Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. The shoot is scheduled to take place over the next three months in various locations in Los Angeles.  

Good Films produces and Open Road co-finances and will jointly distribute with Miramax in the US. Good Universe handles international sales for remaining territories.