After spending a decade writing all but one of the scripts for the Harry Potter movies, Steve Kloves is keen to take on a directing project. He helmed The Fabulous Baker Boys and Flesh & Bone back in the late 80s and early 90s, and is now using his Hogwarts clout to get another directing gig. A couple of weeks ago he signed on to make a new version of The Jungle Book, and now Variety reports he’s set to write and direct the legal thriller, Defending Jacob.
Based on William Landay’s novel, which has been compared to Presumed Innocent and Ordinary People, the story is set in an upperclass Boston suburb, and follows a district attorney who takes time away from his job in order to defend his son, who’s been charged with murder. However, while he’s prepared to help his kid, he’s less than certain over just how innocent his son is. That could certainly make for a potentially interesting film.
Defending Jacoc is very different to Harry Potter, but with those films Kloves showed he was very good at suspense, something that will certainly be needed here.