Jared Leto, John Mulaney and Lupita Nyong’o to Star in True-Life Caper ‘Lunik Heist’

Jared Leto, John Mulaney and Lupita Nyong’o have signed on to star Lunik Heista drama film that Kemp Powers will direct for Searchlight Pictures, the Disney-owned division said Friday.

The screenplay, written by Powers, is inspired by the true story of the US government’s plot to steal a Soviet spacecraft during a 1959 exhibition in Mexico City. The script is based on an article by Jeff Maysh, published in MIT Technology Review.

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Events led the CIA, wanting to learn the Soviets’ scientific capabilities, to intercept and abscond with a space probe, study its secrets, and return it without the other side knowing what had happened. The theft remained secret until it was declassified in 2019.

Leto and Emma Ludbrook are producing under their Paradox banner, along with Mark Johnson for Gran Via Productions. Maysh will serve as executive producer.

Announcing the project, Searchlight Pictures president Matthew Greenfield praised the “extraordinary talents of Jared, Lupita and John” and the “visionary Kemp,” describing Lunik Heist as “a wild, roller-coaster ride full of subterfuge and unlikely heroes.”

Development director Zahra Phillips will oversee the project for Searchlight Pictures, reporting to head of production and development DanTram Nguyen.

The players behind the project have a lot of statuettes and certificates of incorporation between them.

Powers previously worked as a director on acclaimed animated films Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Pixar’s Soulwhich won the best animation Oscar in 2021. He wrote A night in Miami…adapting his 2013 stage play of the same name and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay in the process.

Leto won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club. His recent credits include Blade Runner 2049, The Little Things, and The house of Gucci. Next play Throne: Ares.

Mulaney is a three-time Emmy Award, Critics Choice Award, and WGA Award-winning writer, comedian, and actor. A former writer on Saturday Night Livehas hosted the show five times and will make his sixth appearance this weekend.

Nyong’o won an Academy Award for her performance in the Steve McQueen film 12 years a slave released by Searchlight Pictures. She recently voiced the title role in the DreamWorks Animation hit Wild Robot and played in the summer one A Quiet Place: Day One. He made his Broadway debut in Eclipsed and will next be seen as Viola in the Public Theater production of Twelfth night.

Powers is repped by WME, Media Talent Group and Johnson Shapiro. Leto and Mulaney are repped by WME, while Nyong’o is repped by CAA and Del Shaw.

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