‘Skyjack: The Hunt For D.B. Cooper’ Prepares to Parachute into Theaters

June 13, 2012

By Sarah Cahill

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On November 24, 1971, a reticent passenger on a Pacific Northwest flight handed a stewardess a note that read, “I have a bomb here and I would like you to sit by me.” What transpired next became one of the most puzzling and unsolved crimes of our time: A man the FBI dubbed “D. B. Cooper” managed to extort $200,000 in ransom from an airline and then parachute out of the plane, disappearing into the Washington State wilderness. The legend of D. B. Cooper is filled with many stranger-than-fiction elements, which inspired author Geoffrey Gray to reopen the unsolved account in his 2011 book, Skyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper.

Deadline broke the news today that one of the greatest unsolved true crimes of the twentieth century will soon be rendered on screen. Will Gluck, who is best known for directing romantic comedies such as “Easy A” and “Friends with Benefits” has been tapped by CBS Films to produce and direct the film adaptation of Skyjack. “In Treatment” writer Keith Bunin will pen the screenplay.

Since D. B. Cooper’s fate remained unknown, it is no surprise that his story has provided endless inspiration in popular culture over the past forty years. There have been eight books and many television, film, and radio programs that speculate on the enigmatic D. B. Cooper. The 1981 film, The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper, starring Robert Duvall and Treat Williams, is surprisingly the only feature film that has attempted to adapt D. B. Cooper’s story for moviegoers.

What is your favorite on-screen rendering of D.B. Cooper? Which contemporary actor has the chops to pull off playing one of the most elusive men of the twentieth century? 

Tags: Adventure, Crime, DB Cooper, Keith Bunin, Robert Duvall, Skyjack, Treat Williams, True Crime, Will Gluck