Sam Raimi hasn’t directed a feature film since 2013’s Oz The Great And Powerful, but that may soon change. Raimi is reportedly close to signing on to helm A Prophet, a remake of the French crime thriller that was directed by Jacques Audiard in 2009.

A Prophet centers on Tahar Rahim’s Malik, an Algerian criminal in prison who finds himself on the rise within the rival gangs of Corsicans and Muslims. The original version of A Prophet was widely acclaimed, and it was nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign film category in addition to winning the Grand Prize at Cannes. The remake of A Prophet is set up at Sony, with Dennis Lehane as the screenwriter and Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe as producers.

The film plays heavily with themes of duty, honor, and grappling with one’s religious beliefs. Being raised Muslim, the young protagonist has to contend with visions of people he’s had to kill to survive while in his darkened prison cell. Whether Raimi would tackle that aspect of it, or change it to some other through line is yet to be seen. It would certainly be the most serious topic the director’s ever attempted.

Although Raimi doesn’t have a lot of criminal thrillers on his resume, he has proven himself in that genre with A Simple Plan. Raimi is best known for his genre films, including the Evil Dead franchise, the first three Spider-Man movies, Drag Me To Hell, and The Quick and the Dead. Raimi had been linked to the upcoming theatrical adaptation of The Last of Us, but there’s no definitive word on that project yet.

Are you intrigued by the possibility of Raimi directing the new version of A Prophet? Who would you cast in the lead as Malik? Share your thoughts and casting suggestions in the comment section below!

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HT: Deadline

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