Dev Patel is set to star in a long-gestating movie about the murders surrounding the iconic male stripteasing franchise Chippendales. The film will focus on Banerjee's rise and fall in pursuit of the American Dream, from founding the multi-million dollar Chippendales franchise to being charged with conspiring to kill three of his business associates. Not only did Banerjee hire hitmen to take out Chippendales competitors, but he also allegedly orchestrated the murder of the company's own dance choreographer Nick De Noia. The film will also explore Banerjee's partner Paul Snider, the husband and eventual killer of Playboy model Dorothy Stratten, as well as several others who became entangled in Chippendales' violent history.

Deadline reported that Patel and director Craig Gillespie, who helmed I, Tonya and the upcoming Cruella movie, are now attached to the project. Patel will play Somen "Steve" Banerjee, an Indian immigrant who bought a failed Los Angeles club in the late '70s and turned it into Chippendales, which was the first male strip club targeted for female audiences in the United States.

Related: The True Story Behind I, Tonya

Dev Patel in The Personal History of David Copperfield

Following his breakthrough role in 2008's Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, Dev Patel has starred in several high-profile movies in recent years. His lead role in Lion earned him further acclaim in 2016, and he recently starred in Armando Iannucci's period comedy The Personal History of David Copperfield. With Gillespie directing this Chippendales film and David Lowery's upcoming medieval fantasy The Green Knight likely coming out next year, Patel seems poised to keep his critical hot streak alive as he continues to team up with interesting, talented directors.

Next: 2021 Now Has An Insane Amount Of Blockbuster Movies

Source: Deadline