Julia Roberts to Star in Crime Drama ‘Train Man’ (Exclusive)

7 hours ago | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »

Sixteen years after “Erin Brockovich,” Julia Roberts is eyeing to star in “Train Man,” a courtroom drama about a real-life New York folk hero, Variety has learned.

Roberts would play a lawyer tasked with defending Darius McCollum, the criminal (and Internet celebrity) known for impersonating public transit authorities in order to drive away subway trains and Greyhound buses. McCollum, who is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, has been arrested more than 25 times for such crimes. Roberts’ character would be his most recent lawyer, and his previous heists (starting at age 15) are shown throughout the film via flashbacks.

Those who have read the script by Simon Stephenson (of the U.K. series “Eleventh Hour”) tell that Variety it’s a meaty role for Roberts, along the lines of her Oscar-winning portrait in 2000’s “Erin Brockovich.” The film is being produced by Gotham Group. Roberts could also potentially be a producer.

FilmNation »

- Ramin Setoodeh

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