Sony Pictures is reportedly planning to make a big screen movie based at least in part on my (mis)adventures over the past few years as an independent investigative reporter writing about cybercrime. Some gumshoe I am: This took me by complete surprise.
Source: BrianKrebsFacts.com
The first inkling I had of this project came a few weeks ago when New York Times reporter Nicole Perlroth forwarded me a note she’d received from a Hollywood producer who was (and still is) apparently interested in acquiring my “life rights” for an upcoming film project. The producer reached out to The Times reporter after reading her mid-February 2014 profile of me, which chronicled the past year’s worth of reader responses from the likes of the very ne’er-do-wells I write about daily. Perlroth’s story began:
“In the last year, Eastern European cybercriminals have stolen Brian Krebs’s identity a half dozen times, brought down his website, included his name and some unpleasant epithets in their malware code, sent fecal matter and heroin to his doorstep, and called a SWAT team to his home just as his mother was arriving for dinner.”
I didn’t quite know what to make of the Hollywood inquiry at the time, and was so overwhelmed and distracted with travel and other matters that I neglected to follow up on it. Then, just yesterday, I awoke to a flurry of messages both congratulatory and incredulous on Twitter and Facebook regarding a story in The Hollywood Reporter:
“Sony has picked up the rights to the New York Times article ‘Reporting From the Web’s Underbelly,’ which focused on cyber security blogger Brian Krebs. Krebs, with his site KrebsonSecurity.com, was the first person to expose the credit card breach at Target that shook the retail world in December.”
“Richard Wenk, the screenwriter who wrote Sony’s high-testing big-screen version of The Equalizer, is on board to write what is being envisioned as a cyber-thriller inspired by the article and set in the high-stakes international criminal world of cyber-crime.”
Judging from accounts of the screenwriter’s other movies, if this flick actually gets made someone vaguely resembling me probably will be kicking some badguy butt on the Silver Screen:
–The Expendables 2: Sly Stallone gets revenge.
– The Mechanic: Jason Statham hits hard.
– 16 Blocks: Bruce Willis…well..Bruce Willises.
– The Equalizer (Fall 2014): Denzel Washington tries to hide from his past life of kicking butt.
I still have yet to work out the details with Sony, but beyond remuneration (and perhaps a fleeting Hitchcock-style cameo) I would be delighted if I could influence the selection of the leading man. In the past week, I’ve been told I look like both Jim Carrey and Guy Pearce, but I’m not so sure. But if I had to pick one of my favorite actors, I’d love to see Edward Norton in the role. What about you, dear readers? Sound off in the comments below.
Update, 8:24 p.m. ET: Minneapolis Star-Tribune reporter Jennifer Bjorhus managed to get confirmation from Sony that the studio was working on this film.
God help you!
Now you’ll really have to double task.
I’d go with Jason Bourne.
I vote Jason Statham, with a hair piece and a shave! 😀
http://allthingsgossip.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/1291968022-271.jpg
What ever happened to the KickStarter piece?
Congratulations Brian!
This news is eerily reminiscent of the events leading up to the creation of the movie “The Insider”. That movie was spawned following a May 1996 Vanity Fair piece titled “The Man Who Knew Too Much” by Marie Brenner. The article was about Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, a Brown & Williamson research executive that blew the whistle on his company in 1996. Dr. Wigand was expertly played by Russell Crow, who gave a riveting portrayal of what it’s like to stand up for an unpopular cause.
My greatest fear in hearing this news is that KrebsOnSecurity will die out like the Dodo Bird as a result of new-found fame and celebrity…say it aint so…
It ain’t so!
Russell Crow would be good if he weren’t showing his age so much lately.(maybe they just made him look that way in the last flick)
Speaking of birds, I’m reminded of The Cuckoo’s Egg / The KGB, the Computer, and Me – from WETA.
Note who played the leading role there 😉
Guy Pierce, for sure.
Power to you!
Benedict Cumberbatch has the right background – both detective and computer security.
Good call – damn good actor too! +1
:-bd
Be careful, Brian. Film studios are the devil. I feel more comfortable with you associating the cyber criminals. At least they’re honest about their criminality!
You think cyber criminals are untrustworthy, just wait till you meet movie people 🙂
Brian Krebs…..you do not need the publicity or the faux, shallow notoriety of a Hollywood exploitation of your work for their tinsel benefit. Don’t touch this with a ten foot pole; your integrity is at stake. Forget this Red Herring.
Years from now, when you’re retired and have had enough of assorted bad guys doing bad things to innocent real people, then maybe, maybe, let a movie offer be slipped in under your door.
Edward Norton is perfect!
congratulations anyway
Brian – That’s awesome! Your material would make an outstanding Michael Lewis book too – and Sony’s turned a few of those into movies. For leading man I would have to go with Edward Norton.
You need Matt Damon, no doubt!
I hope this doesn’t change you!
Regards,
Jason Statham should play you. We’d get to watch Statham/Krebs beat the tar out of the entire Russian mob.
I 2nd that notion! 🙂
I vote for Chris Pratt. He’s on track for three Hollywood blockbusters in a row and every promising lead actor gets slated for a cyber/thriller. He would be perfect for a realistic, dark comedy and if it turns into an action movie, he would still be fun to watch.
This NY Times article is why I follow you on your blog. Your knowledge on PC and MAC virus protection and software updates are priceless. Congrats!
Alan Rickman for sure, he was the best on the original “Die Hard” movie
Target breach optioned as Sony feature film
By Rob Waugh posted 20 Mar 2014 – 03:54AM
http://www.welivesecurity.com/2014/03/20/target-breach-optioned-as-sony-feature-film/?
Guy Pearce.
Two thoughts:
1. Money and fleeting fame will change your life, imperil your integrity and values, change your admirable commitment to continue being the excellent watchdog that you are by giving us warning that no one else seems to be doing. You don’t forget “the little guys” among us. We need help in that cyber jungle, too.
2. Edward Norton, definitely. He seems to study his roles; gets into a character’s head; is extremely articulate.
Well said, Alice New York, on your point #1!
Agreed.
This action-scene Hollywood caper could very well end up being a smelly albatross hanging from your neck.
You don’t need the publicity. Forget it.
Remember us little people.
Congrats, Brian. Can’t wait to see it! Maybe your cameo could be as one of the SWATing officers!
It’s Hollywood, so they will totally rewrite Kreb’s life. I would like to see them change the character to be a female. Then cast Jennifer Lawrence as the Cyber-Babe. Oh, yeah…..
Fabulous news and well deserved! However, you do not look like any of your leading men choices: Jim Carrey, Guy Pearce (a tinsy bit), but definitely not Edward Norton (ugh!). You bear more of a fleeting resemblance to Daniel Craig or David Beckham, either of which I’d like to see portray you!
I agree with Mr. Witts comment that I hope fame won’t turn you aside from your mission of keeping the world informed of cyber crime and everything security related. The world needs you–more than Hollywood!
David Beckham another good choice DarFar!
+1
I pay to see Angelina Jolie play you!
Congratulations!
I could see you being played by Noah Wyle or Edward Norton
Noah Wyle another good choice! Maybe the person responsible for casting should read this thread! HA!
:-bd
John Malkovich as a Russian hacker villan.
+1
Is Don Knots still around?
I hope you’ve been up to some things we don’t know anything about so at least part of the screen play can be a surprise. It’s a fascinating story nonetheless.
Respect and regards,
While I loved Hackers and Hackers 2, I hope your movie does a lot better than those did.
Gary Oldman would be superb.
But please make sure this doesn’t go like “Donnie Brasco”, in which the real-life Donnie Brasco was thoroughly disgusted with how the director and producers took the story off onto a completely wrong path.
Good luck! Besides the positive notoriety you deserve for your work in this area, a movie will help raise public awareness, and that’s even better.
Just make sure you work in a requirement in the deal that they have to hire and listen to a tech adviser such as yourself so we don’t end up with eyeroll-inducing Hackers-esque shenanigans.
Also, he doesn’t really resemble you at all, but my 2 cents would be Benedict Cumberbatch, if he can ditch the limey accent. Then you get to imagine Khan beating your enemies.
Or, God forbid, NCIS shenanigans (two-man simultaneous keyboard usage, active ‘hacker/anti-hacker battle’ in real-time, etc.).
Just hear me out…Paul Reubens.