It’s been two years since Todd Haynes‘ outstanding HBO miniseries “Mildred Pierce,” and frankly that’s two years too long. But he’s quietly been brewing some projects in the background. Earlier this year, it was announced he was teaming with Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska for “Carol,” based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, but not much has been heard since. Now, another project is surfacing and it could find him working again with an actor who has anchored his more musical-based films.
Christian Bale, who starred in the glamtacular “Velvet Goldmine” and the Bob Dylan anti-biopic “I’m Not There,” has been offered the lead role in “Act Of God.” If Bale takes the part, he’ll play a regular Kansas man who gains notoriety across the nation after taking his local government to task following a devastating tornado. This is going be less natural disaster drama and more of a political exploration if it’s anything like what Haynes told us about the project last year.
“It’s sort of about the great middle of this country and their sort of suspicions about government,” he told us in an interview. “And how that keeps clicking into conservative politics and the way the right makes use of those uncertainties. There’s interesting reasons why people feel the way they do, outside of the coasts and outside of the clear liberal orthodoxy, and that interests me. It’s been too effective, that allegiance, for too many years, and I’m curious about it. So we’re kind of getting inside that process.”
There’s no word if the project has backing or when it might shoot, but we’d wager this is the kind of movie that lives or dies on drawing a big name. We’d guess if Bale signs—and his schedule seems pretty clear at the moment—all the other pieces will start falling into place.
We sincerely hope it does come together, not just because it sounds like killer material, but also because it’s been too long since the last Haynes feature. [The Tracking Board]
His schedule's pretty clear?! This will not happen any time soon. Exodus starts shooting in September and it'll go on for mooooonths!
If Christian Bale signs for this but can only do it in October—when supposedly "Carol" would start filming—then please do this instead, especially if it's an original script with Haynes as a writer. I'll see anything Haynes releases, but I get the sense that if they miss out on "Carol" this go-round, it stands a better chance to live another day, perhaps even with Blanchett still on board.
I Live in Tulsa,OK We as a Nation MUST look at Truth. MOST of those in Office want to stay because of all the Perks that come with the job. And as we see Once they get a Taste of it they never want to do anything else….they may say its because they want to Help people but they really don't. At least when it comes to Truth. I am Left of Left BECAUSE the Right is & has almost Always been so VERY WRONG. Good Luck w/your Film.
What the hell is going on with "Carol"? It went from being DOA to having Haynes and Weinstein on board, and now nothing again. So incredibly frustrating.
Here's to hoping it actually gets made after he's done with "Carol".
Whatever suspicions about government "the great middle of the country" – and even that term alone denotes a condescending attitude from Haynes – has have been completely justified of late… NSA, IRS, Benghazi, the absolute lawlessness of this current Administration… 'nuff said.
IN HAYNES WE TRUST. Seriously- this man is so underrated. He doesn't get the same attention that Scorsese or Malick, but he's a once in a generation talent. Far From Heaven is one of the greatest films in the last few decades of film.
It's a familiar phenomenon but I trust Haynes has something interesting to say about it or at least a fantastic way to portray/dramatize the familiar. His films have a weird way to both operate academically and emotionally, so him making something politically themed doesn't seem that too far removed from his wheelhouse. As a Kansan, I'd love for him to film here, but obviously one must go where it's cheapest. I cannot recall the last genuinely interesting fictional political film in both content and form. "The Ides of March" was flat and visually inert.
okay i've never seen Batman dress like that
Interesting.