John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator, Skyfall) is set to write the script for the film adaptation of author Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian for director John Hillcoat (The Road, Lawless, Triple 9).
The story is based on historical conflicts along the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s, and it follows the journey of the Kid, a fourteen-year-old from Tennessee, as he navigates the brutal and harrowing landscape of this new era.
The story unfolds against the backdrop of the Glanton gang’s merciless quest for scalps and wealth, as they rampage through the unforgiving landscapes of the American Southwest. The gang is hired by the Mexican government to exterminate Native Americans, but their bloodlust and greed soon transcend their initial mission.
Producer John Francis said in a statement: “It’s incredibly exciting to have John Logan on board. Very reassuring in the seemingly long list of good news concerning what was originally such an intimidating undertaking.”
Logan said: “Blood Meridian has been one of my favorite novels since first reading it in 1985. It’s a majestic, beautiful and uncompromising book and I’m thrilled to be able to help bring Cormac McCarthy’s dark masterpiece to the screen.”
New Regency chairman and CEO Yariv Milchan and president of motion pictures and television Natalie Lehmann said in a joint statement: “Blood Meridian is one of the most revered novels in American literature, from one of the greatest writers.”
They added: “We knew we needed a very special talent to be able to adapt this seminal book and John Logan was our first choice. His prolific talent and remarkable track record consistently demonstrate his ability to transform cherished stories and texts into cinematic accomplishments.”
Hillcoat added: “After years of dreaming and scheming about adapting this great work into a movie, after years of discussing adaptation ideas with Cormac, we are excited to have the writer John Logan weigh in with his passion and understanding of Cormac’s sensibility, to help bring Blood Meridian the movie to fruition.”
Blood Meridian is considered by many to be one of the greatest American novels ever written, and the story is about the human scalping trade in the Southwest 1850s. It’s been a very hard film project for filmmakers to get off the ground over the years.
When talking about adapting the story, Hillcoat previously said: “A book is a book, and a film is a film. He understands they’re two different mediums, but the best you can do is capture the spirit of each.
“He started an adaptation himself. We talked about how to crack it, really, because it is a very ambitious book to crack, as you can imagine.”
This is a film project that I’ve been very much looking forward to seeing get made, and the creative team behind it ensures that it will be a great movie!
Source: Variety