It’s been six years since “Velvet Goldmine” and “Far From Heaven” helmer Todd Haynes last had a film in theaters — the uneven, but intermittently transcendent Bob Dylan picture “I’m Not There.” Haynes has been busy in the meantime, helming the awesome, Emmy-laden miniseries “Mildred Pierce,” as well as an episode of “Enlightened,” but we’ve missed him on the big screen, and so we’re excited by Screen Daily‘s news that Haynes will direct a new film called “Carol.”
The film will reunite Haynes with his “I’m Not There” star Cate Blanchett, who’ll star alongside her follow Australian Mia Wasikowska. Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith about the relationship between an unhappy wife (Blanchett) and a twenty-something department store employee in 1950s New York, the project was previously to be directed by “Boy A” helmer John Crowley, but he’s bowed out due to scheduling conflicts. There’s no word on when it’ll move forward, but we hope it’ll be as soon as goddamn possible.
We’re almost as excited by Screen‘s news that the busiest writer alive, Jack Thorne (one of our Screenwriters On The Rise picks this year), and director Tom Harper, who were behind the excellent, woefully under-seen “Scouting Book For Boys” a few years back, are getting back together, for a political thriller called “War Book.” The film seems to be a “Fail Safe“-style drama set in “the political backrooms of London” in the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the city, and will shoot on July 15th. Harper is squeezing this in before he goes on to direct horror sequel “The Woman In Black: Angel Of Death,” starring Jeremy Irvine and Phoebe Fox.
Meanwhile, cult filmmaker Monte Hellman is prepping a new film, again according to Screen. The “Two Lane Blacktop” helmer will direct “Love Or Die,” a low budget romantic thriller compared to “Heaven Can Wait,” about “a man and woman who fail to meet during their lifetime but are sent back to earth to fulfill their love.” Portuguese producer Paulo Branco, behind that film, is also backing Mathieu Amalric‘s new directorial effort, “The Blue Room.” And finally, the site also report that Juan Carlos Medina, who made some waves at TIFF last year with “Painless,” will direct an adaptation of Peter Ackroyd‘s “Dan Leno And The Limehouse Golem,” which has a script from “Kick-Ass” and “X-Men: First Class” writer Jane Goldman.
Alan B — Kids was a very good movie, but I think rather controversial.
Should be noted that Mia was in that as well! She has chosen some prime roles.
Alan– none! With such big names the potential of this project is so exciting.
I read the novel under its original title 'The Price of Salt'. I didn't even consider that it would ever be adapted, least of which by a major director and in-demand actresses, considering its lesbian themes. How many MAJOR films have been made about lesbian relationships in the last 5 years?
WTF was that last post?
Sorry, a revision of my previous message (you may so kindly disregard, and erase if possible, while leaving only this one up!):
It is just so riveting to hear that some good Cinema is still being made, or struggles to get made out there! After months (spent) watching or hearing about absolutely non creative, non loving nor loved, non personal and non cohesive productions being financed just for money, supposedly in order to hit very uneven, and, more and more dehumanized audiences, often even bewildered by the assumption of a new "technical achievement" presented as a new type of filmmaking, made without love or ideals, true inspiration or just for the sake of Arts, and their powerful eternal mean of free expression, it is now almost bedazzling to hear that some real, never compromising talent, such as Haynes and many more, cited in this joyful and hopeful article by Oliver Lyttelton, is actually still capable to get heard, and, to possibly accomplish the realization of movies made with a sense and sensibility, mostly, with freedom, as an advocate to creation and the realm of never ending possibilities and wonders, "that old black magic" Cinema, that is not "arranged" by a God called money, and, by all of its followers, who believe greatness can be achieved only with the power of it, and, never with the one of the mind. The human mind, that is.
Thank you!
PS: it feels indeed as a remarkable day!
It is just so riveting to hear that some good Cinema is still being made or struggles to get made out there! After months watching or hearing about absolutely non creative, non loving nor loved, non personal, non cohesive productions being financed just for the money in order to hit a very uneven yet dehumanized audiences, just bewildered by the assumption of a new "technical" and far from love and Arts, type of filmmaking, it is almost bedazzling to hear that some real, never compromised talent like Haynes and many more, cited in this joyful and hopeful article by Oliver Lyttelton, is still capable to get heard and to possibly accomplished the realization of movies, with a sense, and, a sensibility, with freedom as an advocate to creation and its wonders, and, not "arranged" by a God called money, and, all of its followers, who believe greatness can be achieved only with the power of money, and, not with the one of the mind. The human mind, that is.
Thank you!
Mia W is the least hyped of the bunch of young actresses out there and yet she's nailing all the choice roles. Hm.
Absolutely fantastic news.
Mia Wasikowska is building up such an impressive filmography.
Mia Wasikowska is so young, yet she builds a really impressive carreer.
"I'm Not There" is "uneven, but intermittently transcendent"? I call BS!
As it stands though, Haynes is my favorite director working, (barring Scorsese); always look forward to his stuff.
Thank you for making my day; even though we may disagree on things…
Very excited to find out that Carol is still on! Haynes is a capable director and he's familiar with the era. I am assured it's going to be a winner!
Playlist, seeing this news really made my day. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for Haynes to make more films. Next up, please Todd Field!