The 1983 kidnapping of Dutch brewery magnate Alfred Heineken went down in history as having one of the highest ransoms ever paid. Now, three decades later, Informant Media announced plans to bring the story to the big screen, and the major casting has already been determined.
According to The Wrap, Swedish filmmaker Daniel Alfredson (The Girl Who Played With Fire) will direct the action thriller Kidnapping Freddy Heineken based off a script by writer William Brookfield. The story – which is adapted from true crime novel by Netherlands journalist Peter R. de Vries – follows the capture of Heineken and his chauffeur, Ab Doderer, by three kidnappers, and their subsequent release for a ransom of $35 million Dutch guldens.
It was also reported that Anthony Hopkins will play Heineken, which seems like a fitting choice for the shape-shifting Hitchcock star. The role marks the second action thriller for the Oscar-winner this year, along with Afonso Poyart‘s Solace. Joining him are Sam Worthington (Avatar), Jim Sturgess (Cloud Atlas), and True Blood star Ryan Kwanten as the kidnappers, as well as Netherlands actor Mark van Eeuwen and Australian newbie Tom Cocquerel.
Production on Kidnapping Freddy Heineken is scheduled to being in Belgium later this month, and will continue onto Amsterdam and New Orleans.
Are you familiar with the story of Freddy Heineken? Do you think it would make a compelling film?