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“Beat the Reaper”, Josh Bazell’s novel about a hit man turned physician has been optioned by Regency Films as a vehicle for Leonardo DiCaprio.  Bazell was a medical intern when Little Brown fought with eight other publishers to acquire the book in 2007. The book is being released this year.

The protagonist is a hit man who goes into the witness protection program. Turning his life around, he goes from taking lives to saving lives by becoming an emergency room doctor. But his shift from hit man to honest citizen hits a snag when a mobster recognizes him in the emergency room. Soon his former life of crime collides with his new life as a doctor in a Manhattan hospital.

DiCaprio is taking on the role of producer as well as playing the lead. He’ll be producing the film along with Jennifer Killoran and Julian Yorn. Appian Way will be co producing and the management/production team of Rick Yorn and Aaron Criswell will also be involved as producers.

“Beat the Reaper” is the first novel by Bazell who is also a doctor. The book earned him a seven figure deal and he’s currently writing a second novel with characters from “Beat the Reaper”.

DiCaprio is coming off of a Golden Globe nomination for Revolutionary Road and just finished working with Martin Scorcese on Shutter Island.