HBO Okays Kate Winslet Miniseries
Winslet will co-produce the project along with MGM, Killer Films and John Wells Productions.
According to an article on HollywoodReporter.com, “Haynes is directing the adaptation of James M. Cain's classic noir novel, which centers on Mildred Pierce Beragon (Winslet), a proud single mother struggling to earn her daughter's love during the Great Depression in middle-class Los Angeles.”
Haynes and Jon Raymond co-wrote Mildred’s script while the project’s showrunners include Haynes, Pamela Koffler and Christine Vachon of Killer Films and John Wells. Ilene Landress will be Mildred’s producer.
The HollywoodReporter.com article goes on to say that, “Casting for the other roles is under way, with production on the mini slated to begin in April in New York. This marks the second major screen adaptation of Cain's novel. The 1945 feature by Michael Curtiz earned Joan Crawford an Academy Award for the title role.”
HBO has been the front runner for the Haynes/Winslet version of Mildred Pierce ever since news on the project broke last summer.
As for Winslet’s past credits, they include the Ang Lee-directed 1995 film adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Sense and Sensibility, the 1997 Academy Award winner for Best Picture Titanic, the 2004 biographical drama Finding Neverland, the 2006 Nancy Meyers-directed romantic comedy The Holiday and the 2008 romantic drama Revolutionary Road.
In addition, Winslet won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the 2008 romantic drama The Reader.
Meanwhile, Haynes’ writing/directing credits include the 2007 musical biographical drama I’m Not There, which starred Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Kris Kristofferson; and the 2002 romantic drama Far from Heaven, which starred Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert and Patricia Clarkson.
The HollywoodReporter.com concludes by stating that, “For HBO, the green light for ‘Mildred Pierce’ follows the critical success of another longform project toplined by feature stars, the movie ‘Grey Gardens’ headlined by Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange.’”
