The journey of bringing the gritty world of the original 2007 game, Kane & Lynch, to the big screen has been long and fraught with challenges. Developed by the acclaimed Hitman studio, IO Interactive, the game's cinematic potential was recognized early on, with a variety of Hollywood stars being attached to the project over the years.
In a recent social media post, Timo Tjahjanto, the director of the upcoming film "Nobody 2," shared that he had crafted a treatment for the Kane & Lynch movie that envisioned David Harbour, known for his roles as Jim Hopper in "Stranger Things" and Red Guardian in "Thunderbolts"/"New Avengers," in the lead role. "Never seen a script, but a couple of years ago when that property was still kinda hot, I wrote a short treatment with James Badge Dale and David Harbour in mind," Tjahjanto wrote. "Never gotten anywhere."
Despite the enthusiasm, the Kane & Lynch film remains adrift, with Tjahjanto's treatment just one of many that never progressed beyond the planning stages. The project saw multiple iterations, with high-profile actors like Bruce Willis and Jamie Foxx initially attached. However, both stars eventually departed as the screenplay underwent numerous revisions.
Later, another ambitious attempt was made to cast Gerard Butler and Vin Diesel in the lead roles, yet this too failed to materialize. The film's prospects dimmed further following the release of the sequel, "Kane & Lynch: Dog Days" in 2010, which received lukewarm reception. In the aftermath, IO Interactive shifted their focus entirely to their successful Hitman series, leaving the Kane & Lynch film project indefinitely stalled.