Lenny Abrahamson has just started shooting his first full-length feature film since making Room, and it's a drama with a supernatural twist. The movie is called The Little Stranger and is based on a critically-acclaimed novel of the same name. The cast includes several familiar faces from recent US and UK productions.
Abrahamson is best known for directing the emotional and stirring Room, the affecting story of a kidnapped woman held in captivity for seven years, and whose 5-year-old son (Jacob Tremblay) was raised in the titular area. The film earned Brie Larson (Kong: Skull Island) an Oscar for her performance in the lead role. However, the Irish-born director has made several other very well-regarded productions, such as the comedy/drama Frank with Michael Fassbender (X-Men: Apocalypse), and the disturbing What Richard Did. For his latest project he's turned towards a story that's just as dramatic as his previous films, but also contains elements of supernatural horror.
Screen Daily has reported that principal photography has just started for The Little Stranger in the UK. The shooting is due to take place in various locations outside of London and the picturesque county of Yorkshire, with the whole filming schedule expected to last for approximately 10 weeks. The plot itself takes place in the late 1940's during a long hot summer, and focuses on Dr. Faraday, the son of a housemaid who now works as a country doctor. He's called to a country mansion where his mother once worked, but is now in decline and with the resident family being haunted by something that may not be of this world.
Faraday is being played by Domnhall Gleason (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), with the rest of the cast including Ruth Wilson (The Affair), Will Poulter (The Revenant), and Charlotte Rampling (Assassin's Creed). The screenplay is adapted by writer Lucinda Coxon (The Danish Girl) directly from the award-nominated novel from author Susan Walters. The book was published in 2009 and was praised for the way in which the narrative successfully combined an effective gothic ghost story, along with a depiction of the social upheaval in the class system during the era of postwar Britain.
Although there is currently no release date for The Little Stranger, the distribution rights have already been settled with Pathé distributing the film in the UK, France and Switzerland, Focus Features releasing it in the US, and Universal Pictures handling the rest of the world. Although Abrahamson has not worked with genre elements before, this type of gothic tale would seem to be something that he would handle very well, especially with the social layers and period angle. Given the filmmaker in charge and the quality of the cast, we look forward to seeing the first trailer and hearing more news about the film. We'll pass on more information about The Little Stranger as soon as we get it.
Source: Screen Daily