Edward Norton has been planning for his project titled Motherless Brooklyn which is based on Jonathan Lethem’s book since he was nominated for an Oscar for American History X (so, 1999). After so many years of struggling and gaining up interest, Norton has finally found an answer in his Red Dragon director Brett Ratner’s RatPac Entertainment.
The film version will change the time period for the book, resulting in Lethem’s main character Lionel Essrog (who Norton will play) back to 1954. He’s a lonely private detective with Tourette’s syndrome, who travels New York City trying to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend. Having very less clues and an obsessive mind, Lionel slowly solves the mystery.
“We all know Edward Norton is one of the most compelling actors of our generation, but I also know he’s an exceptional writer and filmmaker. As soon as I read his script I knew this was a project I wanted to get involved with.” Norton will now cast the project and get started filming it later this year in the Big Apple. Ratner tells Deadline.