The capture of Colton Harris-Moore, better known as the Barefoot Bandit, has brought an end to a three-year chase that saw the fugitive earn global status as a cult hero, but has also seemingly provided David Gordon Green’s adaptation of the story with a worthy conclusion.
The modern-day Robin Hood’s run finally ended with “a high-speed chase, by boat, with police” in the Bahamas after Harris-Moore found his way to the Caribbean courtesy of a crash-landed stolen plane. He was, of course, barefoot at the time and was also apparently involved in a shoot-out; a truly Hollywood-style ending.
Harris-Moore is wanted for over 100 crimes that have helped him remain elusive after he escaped from a halfway house in Washington in 2008, though he is probably best known for having taught himself to drive, captain and pilot an endless number of cars, boats and planes during the three-year run — and he’s still only 19 years of age today.
20th Century Fox acquired the rights to his story in “Taking Flight: The Hunt For A Young Outlaw” earlier this year with Gordon Green reportedly setting up the project as a directorial vehicle for his Mandate Pictures subsidary Rough House Pictures. Sounds pretty much perfect for him, right?
I didn't know anybody had already planned to make this into a movie, but when I read all about it including the dramatic conclusion, I thought, "Damn, what a perfect story to adapt into a film." It could be the next Catch Me If You Can considering the protaganist's age and his pension for flying (and crashing) airplanes.
Colton Harris-Moore = bad ass
I can't wait to see what DGG does with the scene where he breaks into a closed bar to watch tv, eat potato chips and drink juice. Barefoot Bandit is badassssssss.