Daniel Craig to star opposite Halle Berry in “Kings” drama

PanARMENIAN.Net - Daniel Craig is in early negotiations to star opposite Halle Berry in “Kings,” the independent drama set against the backdrop of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Variety reports.

Deniz Gamze Erguven, director of “Mustang,” is directing “Kings” from her own script in what will be her English-language debut. She’s re-teamed with “Mustang” producer Charles Gillibert.

Should Craig come on board, he will portray a loner who lives in South Central Los Angeles and falls in love with Berry’s character. When the riots erupt, he will help Berry in protecting her children from the violence.

The riots started a few hours after a jury in suburban Simi Valley acquitted four Los Angeles Police officers of use of excessive force in the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King in 1991 following a high-speed chase. A total of 55 people died during the riots amid looting, assault and arson causing more than $1 billion of property damage.

Insiders began selling “Kings” last month at Cannes with Berry and Erguven attached. “Mustang” centered on five orphaned teenage sisters in northern Turkey, was nominated earlier this year for an Academy Award for best foreign language film.

Craig was last seen as James Bond in “Spectre,” his fourth Bond movie, and it’s unclear if he’ll return for a fifth. He’s starring in Steven Soderbergh’s heist film “Logan Lucky” opposite Channing Tatum, Riley Keough and Adam Driver and signed on to star in the 20-episode Showtime series “Purity” for producer Scott Rudin and writer-director Todd Field.

The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.