Novelist Ellroy rolls '77' for Wolf, Paramount Pictures (Hollywood Reporter)
		By BETH LASKI, March 14, 2001 Crime novelist James Ellroy will write his first original screenplay, the urban crime thriller "77," for "Law & Order" producer Dick Wolf, Wolf Films' Tony Ganz and Paramount Pictures. The project is described as a complementary piece to Ellroy's "L.A. Confidential." In a deal worth high-six against seven figures, Ellroy's story will link two events from May 1974 -- the unsolved murder of Los Angeles police officer Mike Edwards and the nationally televised shootout in South Central Los Angeles between the LAPD and the Symbionese Liberation Army, as they exchanged more than 50,000 rounds of gunfire. The story will unfold through the eyes of a pair of police partners, one black and one white. Ellroy will start on the screenplay when he returns from a world tour to promote his latest book, "The Cold Six Thousand." He is also writing an updated version of the 1949 James Cagney gangster film "White Heat" for Village Roadshow Pictures and Warner Bros. Ellroy presented the idea for "77" in a 22-minute pitch, during which he explained every scene in what will be the movie. "It was one of the best pitches I've ever heard," Wolf told The Hollywood Reporter. "He draws verbal pictures of the characters that are truly extraordinary, and obviously he can put them down on the page." Ellroy previously has adapted his own books for the big screen. His works have captured the essence of Los Angeles and the LAPD, including the best sellers "The Black Dahlia," "The Big Nowhere" and "L.A. Confidential," which was adapted for the big screen and for which Kim Basinger took home an Oscar. "All of us are thrilled to be working with Paramount, the studio which has set the gold standard for crime dramas, ranging from 'Chinatown' to 'The Godfather,' " Wolf said, adding that he is glad to be working again with Paramount chairman Sherry Lansing and president John Goldwyn. Ellroy, Wolf and Ganz began meeting about a year ago to come up with a feature film idea on which to collaborate. Wolf and Ganz will produce through Wolf Films, for which Ganz heads the theatrical division. "James is one of my favorite writers," Wolf said. "I'm addicted to crime stories. It started with the Hardy Boys and Sherlock Holmes, and I worked my way up to James. He has cops down better than any American writer ever." Added Ellroy: "Dick Wolf is the king of television crime, and I have no doubt that he will soon become the king of feature film crime. '77' will be my first epic-length film script -- and I'm thrilled that the 'Wolfman' is at the helm," he said in prepared statement. Other films based on Ellroy's books include the James Woods starrer "Cop," based on "Blood on the Moon," and "Brown's Requiem." Wolf Films in association with Studios USA produces two of NBC's highest-rated drama series, the Emmy-winning "Law & Order," in its 11th season and renewed through 2005, and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," in its second season and renewed through 2002. Wolf Films produced the feature films "School Ties," "Masquerade" and "No Man's Land." Ellroy is repped by AMG/Renaissance's Joel Gotler. Wolf and Ganz are repped by UTA.

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