David Gordon Green will direct Lionsgate’s Stronger, the story of Boston Marathon bombing bombing survivor Jeff Bauman, who lost both legs in the attack.
Green started his career with low-budget indies like “George Washington” before moving to studio pictures like “Pineapple Express” and into TV with “Eastbound and Down.”
He is also directing Warner’s upcoming Sandra Bullock star vehicle, Our Brand Is Crisis, based on the documentary about campaign financing.
John Pollono has adapted the script for “Stronger,” which is his feature debut. Pollono wrote and co-starred in the Off Broadway play “Small Engine Repairs.”
Stronger has been set up with Mandeville Films principals Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman along with Scott Silver, while Peter McGuigan will exec produce.
Based on the book by Bauman and Bret Witter, the book details the aftermath of the 2013 attack at the marathon finish line, where Bauman had been cheering for his girlfriend. A photo of Bauman after the blast remains one of the iconic images of the tragedy, which killed three and injured more than 260.
When Bauman awoke the next day after surgeries and realized he could not speak, he asked for a pad and paper and wrote: “Saw the guy. Looked right at me.” That set off a massive manhunt for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was convicted of the murders in April.
Published last year, the book describes Bauman’s attempts to walk again and face his new circumstances with grace, transforming from an aimless deli counter worker to a man driven with ambition and full of love. “I saw the bomber,” Bauman wrote. “He took my legs, but he didn’t break me. He only made me stronger.”
Two other Boston Marathon bombing movies are currently in development — CBS Films’ “Patriot’s Day,” with Mark Wahlberg attached to star, and Fox’s “Boston Strong.”
