Just published in June, ' The Cartel ' offers a fictional take on the notorious Sinaloa drug boss whose daring July 18 escape from a Mexican prison dominated international news headlines. Fox and Ridley Scott are teaming up to adapt The Cartel , Don Winslow's much-heralded novel that has parallels to the real-life escape of drug lord El Chapo. Scott will direct the movie and produce with his Scott Free Films president Michael Schaefer. Shane Salerno will write the script and also produce via his shingle, Story Factory. The movie deal went down Wednesday night after intense interest from the major studios and producers. Execs and observers had been eyeing the project not just for the ripped-from-the-headlines similarities but also for the acclaimed reviews of the book that are praising it as a south-of-the-border version of The Godfather. Steve Asbell will oversee the project for the studio. The deal also includes Fox's pick up of the movie rights to Winslo...