Is Guy Pearce Going on 'The Road'?
Filed under: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, RumorMonger
What a difference a month can make. Back in September, Viggo Mortensen seemed pretty confident when he told MTV Movies Blog that he was in talks to star in a big-screen version of Cormac McCarthy's, The Road. Now, Shock Till You Drop is reporting that Guy Pearce could be replacing Mortensen in the film. Mortensen was never officially confirmed, so Pearce as a replacement would seem to be the most likely scenario -- especially since the story isn't exactly teeming with characters. The novel focuses on a father and son who are survivors of an apocalyptic event and are trying to make it to 'the coast' while surrounded by fellow survivors who have reverted to cannibalism. If you haven't read the book, I really recommend picking it up, although be warned: don't let that Oprah Book Club selection sticker lull you into thinking this is a feel-good story. Nothing could be further from the truth. John Hillcoat is already set to direct the Joe Penhall adaptation and since Hillcoat worked with Pearce on the revisionist western, The Proposition, back in 2006, that could tip the scales in Pearce's favor. The film could be a bit of a hard-sell with audiences to begin with. There is some truly disturbing stuff going on in the story, and for those of you who have read the book, you probably know what I mean. Luckily, no matter which actor they go with, I think either would be more than capable of handling the role, don't you? The Road is tentatively scheduled for release in 2009.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-05-2007 @ 6:10PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
This is the first I am hearing of this, and I am excited. Beautiful, heartwrenching book. But very "internal." So there's a challenge. And how do you do cannibalism without it turning into Dawn of the Dead? I'm happy with either Pierce or Mortensen as The Man. But The Boy? A 7-yr-old who has had the childhood burned out of him, but is still the embodiment of Hope--that will be some tough casting!
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11-05-2007 @ 10:14PM
Lisa said...
Fantastic! I thought "The Proposition" was one of the best films of last year...and one of the best Westerns ala "Oz" that I've seen in a long time (could even give Crowe's "3:10 To Yuma" a run for its money in my opinion which was a good film but lacked the "grit" of "Proposition"). Guy Pearce was phenomenal in Hillcoat's other film and..lets not forget...he's dealt with cannibals before (see "Ravenous")...so I know he'd be more than capable of handling the role in "The Road". The book reminds me a bit of "Children of Men" meets "Ravenous" and was a very internal novel...I'm really looking forward to seeing it transformed to the silverscreen and...really excited to see who fills the role of the son as he's probably the most intregal part of the story.
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11-06-2007 @ 1:35AM
Paul said...
I read "The Road" within a few weeks of it's release - and all throughout, I envisioned "The Proposition" with a scorched, overcast sky, complete with Guy Pearce as the central character.
When I heard John Hillcoat was attached to direct, I couldn't think of a more flawless coupling of story and style. Not to mention being more than a little creeped out by my casting "premonition".
Additionally, I'm just finishing up "No Country..." The film might be the most perfect screen adaptation of a novel ever.
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11-06-2007 @ 9:09AM
Jo said...
Can Guy Pearce convey the paternal tenderness towards the boy that would balance the overwhelming dire tone of the story?
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11-06-2007 @ 11:04AM
Blue Bear said...
I get really irritated when people don't do their research properly! ShockTillYouDrop were not reporting that Guy Pearce had replaced Viggo Mortensen. They were reporting that he had joined the picture. If anyone had bothered to look further into their site they would have found this: http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/imageGallery/American_Film_Market_2007/The_Road.jpg Viggo is playing the lead and Guy is playing a more minor character that appears towards the end of the story.
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11-06-2007 @ 2:58PM
ElGaucho said...
What awesome news. The book is so visually evocative despite its sparse prose; if anyone call pull off the movie in my head, it's Hillcoat.
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11-06-2007 @ 2:07PM
Catherine Doyle said...
I refer you to a column entitled "The AFM A-List," by StephenGalloway in the October 30th "Hollywood Reporter:"
The Road
2929 International
Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is coming to the screen, with
Viggo Mortensen and Guy Pearce in leading roles. John Hillcoat -- who made a splash helming the 2006 Australian western "The Proposition" -- will direct from a screenplay by Joe Penhall, with shooting set to begin in New Orleans in January. The book, an apocalyptic tale about a father and son who walk through a ravaged post-war America, is the third recent McCarthy adaptation, following Billy Bob Thornton's 2000 drama "All the Pretty Horses" and the Coen brothers' current Miramax release "No Country for Old Men." Nick Wechsler produces.
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