The Long, Strange Journey of 'Triple Frontier'

There’s a reason why Hollywood coined the term “development hell” -- namely, because even when there’s lots of interest in a project and motivation and big stars and distributors, the process of making a movie can be a protracted, painful experience. Since first garnering attention in 2010, “Triple Frontier” went through director and casting changes, studio shake-ups and more before finally getting released this week via Netflix, a distributor fast gaining a reputation for swooping in and ing films that are obscure ion projects, underfunded or otherwise troubled. To commemorate its opening, we decided to look back at just a few of those stumbling blocks the filmmakers faced while attempting to get it to the screen.

When the project was first announced in October 2010, A Most Violent Year” made waves with critics groups, writer-director J.C. Chandor entered into talks in 2015 to direct the project from Mark Boal's script for Paramount Pictures. He later signed on to direct the film in September of that year.

By then, Hanks’ commitment to the film was on shakier ground, though he and Will Smith were still negotiating the possibility of ing the film. Additionally, Depp’s name re-entered the picture as a potential star as Smith left the film due to scheduling conflicts for “Adria Arjona (HBO’s “True Detective”).

One month later, Netflix began negotiating for the rights to the film, eyeing Pedro Pascal had ed the film, even as Ali was forced to drop out due to production delays. And less than a year later, in March 2018, began production in Oahu, Hawaii, with Ben Affleck once again in the lead role.

In addition to Affleck, Hunnam, Hedlund and Pascal, A Most Violent Year” star (timing originally prevented them from working together). Chandor, who is a writer or co-writer on all of his films, eventually received a co-writing credit alongside Mark Boal, who first conceived the story. At various stages, the film was also rumored to receive a name change to “Sleeping Dogs,” but clearly that idea didn’t take.

Nevertheless, Deadline’s Mike Fleming had it right back in March of 2018 when he considered the movie’s endurance a “study in how a worthy script can stay alive , despite setbacks that are often fatal.” “Triple Frontier” is not just a prestige project or star-studded, military-themed thriller, but a testament to the longevity of good ideas and the fortitude of producers and filmmakers committed to bringing them to the screen.