Guy Ritchie, who made his name making British crime comedies likeLock, Stock, and Two Smoking BarrelsandSnatch, has been tapped to write and direct the World War II picMinistry of Ungentlemanly Warfarefor Paramount.Pirates of the Caribbean’s Jerry Bruckheimeris on board to produce alongside Chad Oman through his banner Jerry Bruckheimer Films.
Based on the wordily titled nonfiction bookMinistry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill’s Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Opsby Damien Lewis (not Damian Lewis, the actor fromHomeland), Ritchie’s movie will tell the story of England’s first black ops team, which operatedduring the Second World War. Paramount won the rights to the book in a bidding war back in 2015. Ivan Atkinson is attached as an executive producer, while Paramount executive Vanessa Joyce will oversee production on the studio’s behalf.
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Set in 1939, when England was being battered by Germany on battlefields across mainland Europe,Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfaresees Winston Churchill sending the British armed forces’ first“deniable” squad of secret operativesbehind enemy lines. They weren’t required to play by the gentlemanly rules of engagement and ended up mounting a lot of significant victories against the Nazis. The story is a lot like a true-to-lifeInglourious Basterds.
This will be Ritchie’s first war movie, although the colorful characters, abundance of violence, and dark comedic sensibility suggested by the premise areright up his alley. Ritchie has been tackling a lot of new genres in recent years: hisSherlock Holmesmovies are mysteries,The Man from U.N.C.L.E.is a spy actioner, andKing Arthur: Legend of the Swordputs a fantasy spin on a historical myth.
The latest draft of theMinistry of Ungentlemanly Warfarescript was written by Arash Amel, best known for writing 2018’sA Private War, but Ritchie will be penning his own version. Ritchie has been a credited writer on all of his movies except theSherlock Holmesduology. The story of England’s first black ops team will allow Ritchie to put his own personal stamp on the WWII film in the same wayChristopher Nolan did withDunkirkand Taika Waititi did withJojo Rabbit.
Ritchie’s most recent directing credits include Disney’s live-action remake ofAladdin, which topped $1 billion at the worldwide box office, andThe Gentlemen, his long-awaited return to the gangster genre starring Matthew McConaughey and Henry Golding. He’s currently attached to direct two thrillersstarring Jason Statham–Wrath of ManandFive Eyes– before he can tackleMinistry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
