Universal acquires rights to ‘Savages’

Universal Pictures has won domestic distribution rights to Oliver Stone's "Savages."

At least two other studios had been circling the adaptation of Don Winslow's 2010 novel.

Story follows two drug kingpins living in Laguna Beach who are forced to work for a Mexican cartel after their free-spirited friend O is kidnapped.

Stone co-wrote the script with Shane Salerno. The helmer is now looking to lock down the cast to meet the June start date; offers are out to Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch to play the dealers as well as for Benicio Del Toro to play a cartel enforcer.

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