5 years after his debut movie “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby,” filmmaker Ned Benson took on a considerably sudden new gig: rewriting the “Black Widow” script.
The filmmaker, whose sophomore function “The Biggest Hits” is now streaming on Hulu, was tapped to rewrite the MCU Scarlett Johansson-led prequel again in 2019. The Marvel movie was first written by Jac Schaeffer, and Benson was finally given a “story by” credit score alongside Schaeffer. (The ultimate script was written by Marvel staple “Thor: Ragnarok” Eric Pearson, who can also be behind upcoming MCU installments “Thunderbolts” and “The Incredible 4.”)
Now, with “The Biggest Hits” being a Disney-owned Searchlight launch through Hulu, Benson advised IndieWire that being again within the fray of Disney means he’s not essentially shutting the door on an enormous franchise movie like a Marvel film.
“I’m not likely … I simply don’t know. I’m open to something, so long as I really feel that I’m appropriate for the job,” Benson mentioned when requested about returning to the franchise fray. “I feel if one thing is thrilling to me, I’m going to place the whole lot I’ve into it. So with that chance, I took the chance and actually dove into that script and tried to determine it out.”
Benson added, “As a author, I’m all the time excited to attempt stuff. As a filmmaker, I feel I’m somewhat extra reticent, as a result of I feel you’re spending two years or extra of your life on every of those initiatives. It actually takes a toll in your life-style. As a author, I’m open to something. As a director, I’ve to see what is smart.”
In 2019, Collider reported that Marvel executives’ curiosity was piqued following the TIFF premiere of Benson’s directorial debut “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby,” which started as a Blacklist script. On the time, former Sony government Amy Pascal’s Pascal Photos had not too long ago employed Benson to adapt the award-winning Dallas Morning Information article “My Aryan Princess” for the display, with “Black Widow” actress Scarlett Johansson forged within the lead position. The article adopted the true crime story of a lady who tried to take down the Aryan Brotherhood in Texas.
5 years later, and Benson has confirmed to IndieWire that the undertaking is certainly nonetheless within the works. The movie, now titled “Featherwood,” is written by Benson and will likely be directed by “American Honey” helmer Arnold, whose newest function “Hen” is debuting at Cannes 2024. Johansson will painting Carol Blevins, a heroin addict and “Aryan Princess featherwood,” a time period that means the property of a gang member, who turned one of many FBI’s most vital informants throughout a six-year investigation into the neo-Nazi crime and drug syndicate generally known as the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas.
“There’s one which’s type of on the market. I wrote a film referred to as ‘Featherwood’ that Andrea Arnold is directing with Scarlett Johansson starring, which I’m actually enthusiastic about. It’s based mostly on this podcast and article that’s fairly loopy,” Benson advised IndieWire. “That’s been one which’s been within the works for a bit. There’s a number of different issues that I want I might discuss however I’ll upset individuals if I do. There are two or three or 4 issues within the works.”
Whereas Benson stayed mum on these different initiatives, he did tease that there’s neither music nor romance (“surprisingly not”), two of his signature attributes present in his romantic dramas “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby” and song-centric “The Biggest Hits,” concerned in his upcoming endeavors.
“The Biggest Hits” is now streaming on Hulu.