The strangest development saga of any movie this summer includes A-list writers and directors (Mamet, Scorsese) coming and going, and studios spending millions trying to hone the right script. Then, a young producer and first-time screenwriter cracked the code and got Denzel Washington's attention.

I’m going to hear it from him if I’m not bringing it,” Lee tells Vanity Fair. “I don’t want my brother to get my ass slapped. Can’t do that. There’s a standard we have.”