‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ Director Sean Durkin Heads To ‘Little House On The Prairie’
Martha Marcy May MarlenedirectorSean Durkinis heading back to the farm again, but for a very different type of story. He’s entered negotiations to directLittle House on the Prairie, taking over afterDavid Gordon Greenfell away. Hit the jump for more on theLittle House on the Prairiemovie.
Other adaptations have included a 2005 miniseries that aired on ABC. The newLittle House on the Prairiemovie has been in the works for a few years already. Gordonclimbed aboard in 2012and as of this spring he wastelling presshe was envisioning it as “a John Ford movie, kind of in the great western genre.” It’s unclear why he has since dropped out.
TheLittle House on the Prairiemovie is set up at Sony withScott Rudinproducing. The script comes fromAbi Morgan, who pennedShame,The Iron Lady, and most recently,The Invisible Woman. Not exactly the kind of credits that scream “wholesome family-oriented movie,” but people contain multitudes.
Durkin won raves for his feature filmmaking debutMartha Marcy May Marlenein 2011 but hasn’t helmed another movie since. (Though he has been linked to a Janis Joplin biopic starring Nina Arianda.) Instead, he has been directing the British drama seriesSouthcliffe, which aired on Channel 4 last year.
As with Morgan or his predecessor Green, his resume isn’t an obvious fit for aLittle House on the Prairiemovie. While a good portion ofMartha Marcy May Marlenetook place on a farm, it was a dark psychological thriller about a cult. But maybe he and Morgan will offer a fresher take on the material because they’re such unexpected picks. Or perhaps, the way current movie trends are going, Rudin is trying to put together a gritty reboot. (Note: That last part was a joke. For now.)
