Josh Brolin's 'Cartel' axed by Universal

Universal has pulled the plug on Josh Brolin drugs drama Cartel just five weeks before it was due to start shooting.

The project had been scheduled to kick off production in Mexico City in May, but the studio reportedly decided to axe the film due to budget, script and location problems, says Deadline.

The backers - Universal and Ron Howard's Imagine Entertainment - reportedly had issues with filming a drug-related project in Mexico.

"Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment ceased pre-production of Cartel today," the studio said in a released statement. "As much as we had hoped to begin filming this spring in Mexico City, the studio and its producing partners did not feel it was creatively ready to move forward under the timetable and budget we had established. We thank all of the filmmakers, cast and crew for their work during pre-production."

Brolin was to play a man embroiled in the world of Mexican drug cartels who is on a mission to protect his son. Asger Leth had been on board to direct the movie based on the 1993 Italian film La Scorta.