UPDATED: Amazon MGM Studios has won the bidding war for “Best of Enemies,” which is planned as a theatrical release. Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale will team up again to star in“Best of Enemies” for Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven. Ten years ago, Cooper and Bale starred in David O. Russell’s “American Hustle,” which Roven produced.
Cooper could be in consideration to direct as well as star, reported Deadline, which broke the news of the Amazon MGM acquisition.
Eric Warren Singer, who wrote “American Hustle,” will pen the script. It’s an adaptation of “Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War,” which was written by Eric Dezenhall and Gus Russo. Madison Weireterand Ryan Sanak will be part of the production team on behalf of Atlas.
Cooper is in the midst of a busy awards season, having produced, co-written, directed and starred in “Maestro,” his critically acclaimed look at Leonard Bernstein and his marriage to Felicia Montealegre. His other credits include “A Star is Born” and “The Hangover.” Bale is an Oscar winner for his work in “The Fighter.” His resume includes turns in “The Dark Knight,” “Vice” and “The Big Short. Bale recently appeared in Netflix’s “The Pale Blue Eye” and in “Thor: Love and Thunder.” Roven produced “Oppenheimer,” another Oscar contender, and is working with John Woo on a remake of “The Killer.”
“Best of Enemies” follows a CIA agent and a KGB agent, who develop a bond during the waning days of the Cold War, with the two men trying to convince each other to betray their country.
The Insneider broke the news of the project and Cooper and Bale’s involvement.