He’s portrayed everyone from the dignified Tony Blair to the affable David Frost, but now Michael Sheen is ready to explore his sinister American side. Sheen will be writing, directing, and starring in the crime thriller Green River Killer, his directorial debut, adapted from the graphic novel Green River Killer: A True Detective Story by Jeff Jensen and artist Jonathan Case. He will play necrophiliac serial killer Gary Ridgway, who pleaded guilty in 2003 to 49 charges of first-degree murder of women in the state of Washington during the 1980s and 1990s. The film’s central narrative will revolve around police detective Tom Jensen — Jeff Jensen’s son — who spent 20 years tracking and building a case against Ridgway, who’s currently serving life in prison with no chance of parole.
“This is a dark story but one that ultimately finds hope and meaning in that darkness,†Sheen said of the film. “The story of Tom and Gary, and how they are bound together in time, pulled me in from the beginning and wouldn’t let go. I hope that by now bringing it to life on screen, it can make audiences feel the same way.â€