With Dennis Haysbert already announced to headline the upcoming action-drama American Smuggler, director Roel Reine, known for his works in Halo and Classified, has been attached as the film's director.
The film will follow the hunt for the notorious American drug trafficker Craig Petties, who led a criminal empire in Memphis with ties to Mexico's drug cartels. The project, which stars Haysbert as a CIA agent in the film, is developed on the operations undertaken by armed forces such as Delta Force and Mexican Marines to uproot the international drug network ailing parts of North America. American Smuggler will also depict the real-life tragedy of children pressed to work for these gangs in El Chapo's tunnel, resulting in some of their deaths. In 2013, Petties was sentenced to life for trafficking and multiple murders.
American Smuggler is produced by Stone Gate Entertainment's David M Matthews, CMA Entertainment's Cheryl Martin and Troy Allen, Stoked Bros Media's Aisha Wynn, and Jarnell Stokes and Isaiah Stokes of the Lion of Judah Productions.
The film is written by Koji Steven Sakai based on the experiences of Lion of Judah's Tracy Matthew, who served as a civilian team leader during the operation.
Best known for his performances as President David Palmer in the hit series 24 and the Major League film trilogy, Haysbert will be serving as the executive producer along with Geevani Singh and retired SEAL Team member Don Mann, with former Navy SEAL Damian Jackson as the consultant.
The film's production will begin later this year in New Mexico.