Ridley and Tony Scott to produce A Conspiracy of Paper for Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. has nabbed film rights to David Liss’ 2000 period mystery thriller novel A Conspiracy of Paper for Ridley and Tony Scott to produce through their Scott Free banner, according to Variety.

Danny Strong (Recount) – who plays the recurring role of Danny Siegel on Mad Men – has been tapped to write the script, set in early 18th century London against the backdrop of the beginnings of stock speculation and the retreat from a mineral-based currency. The story centers on Benjamin Weaver, a Jewish former boxer living on the fringes of criminal society who becomes entangled with powerful financial giants.

Scott Free’s Michael Costigan brought the project to Warner Bros., sparking to the idea of another London-set period movie after the success of Sherlock Holmes.

Danny Strong’s first draft of the upcoming project The Butler at Columbia Pictures got Lee Daniels attached to direct. He is also rewriting EDF for Warners with Pierre Morel directing and Sam Raimi producing, and will reteam with Jay Roach (who directed Recount) and HBO on the film Game Change.