Ali Fazal to star as the lead in a war drama based on the novel Codename: Johnny Walker : Bollywood News

Even as he is awaiting the release of his mammoth international movie Kenneth Branagh’s Death On The Nile this month alongside a sublime cast comprising Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer amongst others. India’s latest export to the West - Ali Fazal has bagged the lead role in the prestige project Codename: Johnny Walker. The war drama is based on the New York Times bestseller by the same name and is co-written by American Sniper co-writer Jim Delfice.

Ali Fazal to star as the lead in a war drama based on the novel Codename: Johnny Walker

A quick search will inform you that Codename: Johnny Walker which is written by Alan Wenkus former writer of the famed chat series - The Tonight Show and Straight Outta Compton, for which he got an Academy Nomination too. The writing of the film has been in the works since September 2015.

Fazal, currently in the midst of promoting his show Mirzapur 2, in a chat with GQ Magazine of which is the cover star of the month spoke about his latest project. Once the pandemic permits, Fazal will be in an LA studio shooting for the lead role in the film.

Fazal is quoted saying in the magazine, “People [in the West] are now more open to writing parts that can have actors cast from across the canvas,” mentioning British writer, rapper, and actor Riz Ahmed. “This is very hard to do because you have to get geography out of your head. Naturally, not all movies can do that – an Indian film about a farmer in the hinterland can’t cast Tom Cruise.”

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#CoverAlert - PUMPED to be gracing the 12th anniversary edition Cover of GQ .. (October) Thank you for championing my work guys .. lots more to come in good time. @gqindia I take this as my birthday gift in advance. . . . , @alifazal9 is officially Hollywood’s favourite Indian actor. But the Lucknow-bred, Doon-educated artist remains deeply connected to his roots, with the hotly anticipated second season of Mirzapur out soon. #October2020 ________________________________________ Ali Fazal, photographed for the October 2020 issue by @thebadlydrawnboy Editor-in-Chief: @chekurriengq Stylist: @rahulvijay1988 Writer: @_niddee_ Photography Agency: @featartists Hair & Make-up: @kritikagill/ @featartists Assistant Stylist: @selman_fazil Production: @magzmehta, @anomalyproduction ________________________________________ Ali Fazal is wearing coat by Perona (@weareperona), shirt, trousers; both by Sarah and Sandeep (@sshomme), watch by Lagado Watches (@lagadowatches) ________________________________________ #AliFazal #Hollywood #Bollywood #DeathOnTheNile #CodenameJohnnyWalker #Mirzapur #Season2 #OTT #BingeWatch #WatchOut #AnniversaryIssue #12thAnniversary
A post shared by ali fazal (@alifazal9) on Oct 6, 2020 at 10:08pm PDT