Todd Haynes directed Cate Blanchett to an Oscar nomination for his Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There in 2007. Now that the Mildred Pierce director is finally returning to features, Haynes has decided to reunite with Blanchett. His next project will be Carol and he’s picked Mia Wasikowska as Blanchett’s co-star.
The project was first reported by Screen Daily last week, when Haynes agreed to direct the Number 9 production. Elizabeth Karlsen of Number 9 is the lead producer along with Stephen Woolley and Haynes regular Christine Vachon.
Film4 and HanWay were responsible for sales at Cannes and managed to make a deal with The Weinstein Company. Deadline reported that TWC closed the deal on Saturday and the distributor made it official today.
Carol is based on The Price of Salt, a novella by Patricia Highsmith (Strangers on a Train, The Talented Mr. Ripley). It centers on a relationship between two women in 1950s New York. Wasikowska will play a woman who is stuck working in a department store, while Blanchett’s character is in a loveless marriage. Phyllis Nagy has been tapped to adapt the novella.
“Todd is without a doubt one of the most talented directors working today. His attachment to direct this script and cast is a dream come true,” Karlesen told Screen Daily.
Haynes directed the acclaimed HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce with Kate Winselt and earned an OScar nomination for his script for 2002’s Far From Heaven.
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