Boyle, Searchlight Firm Mountaineer Tale

Fox Searchlight and Danny Boyle have firmed plans to make their next collaboration “127 Hours,” a film that tells the story of mountaineer Aron Ralston.

After his right forearm got pinned for nearly five days under a boulder during a climb in Utah in May, 2003, Ralston used a dull knife to amputate the limb. He then scaled a 65-foot sheer wall and hiked out before running into a family that gave him water and food. He was finally rescued by helicopter.

Boyle will direct the film, with production to begin next year for a late 2010 release. Pic is financed and distributed by Searchlight in partnership with Pathe.

The film reteams the financiers and also the creative team behind “Slumdog Millionaire,” which won eight Oscars. 

Boyle has written a treatment, and Simon Beaufoy is in talks to write the script, and Christian Colson will produce. Pic marks Boyle’s fifth collaboration with Fox Searchlight, following “Slumdog Millionaire" (which the distributor picked up from Warner Bros.), “Sunshine,” “28 Days Later” and “Millions.” Boyle directed “A Life Less Ordinary” and “The Beach” at 20th.

He’s repped by WME.

Boyle is now looking for an actor to play Ralston, a plum job considering the character is alone for most of the film, much the way that Tom Hanks was during “Cast Away.” Ryan Gosling had been rumored to be in contention, but sources said nobody is set at this point.