Deadline is reporting that the legendary Star Wars screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan will write and direct the thriller November Road, based on the brand-new novel by Lou Berney. This will mark Kasdan’s first time behind the camera since 2012’s Darling Companion.
RELATED: Co-Writer Jon Kasdan Reveals 53 Facts about Solo: A Star Wars Story
The book takes place just after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November of 1963, and follows a mob lieutenant named Frank Guidry who was tangentially involved in the plot to kill JFK. When others involved begin showing up dead, he goes on the run and winds up agreeing to help a beautiful housewife with two little daughters and a dog, finding the “instant family” to be a perfect disguise.
Kasdan will write and direct November Road, and will produce alongside Shane Salerno in a co-production between Kasdan Pictures and The Story Factory. Distributors should be lined up shortly.
“’November Road’ is a mesmerizing novel — a brutal, nerve-wracking crime thriller combined with a stirring, romantic love story,” Kasdan said. “The book is populated by funny, surprising characters of many ages and will make a hugely entertaining and emotional movie.”
Berney called Kasdan “one of the best filmmakers in the world, with a list of iconic films to his credit. He has just the right sensitivity and humanity for a book that crosses multiple genres but is ultimately a love story.”
Kasdan has spent the last six years at Lucasfilm helping to write both 2015’s hugely successful Star Wars: The Force Awakens as well as this year’s box office disappointment Solo: A Star Wars Story. Kasdan cut his teeth as a screenwriter in the Star Wars world, penning the scripts for 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back and 1983’s Return of the Jedi, as well as Steven Spielberg’s original Raiders of the Lost Ark. Kasdan kicked off his own successful directing career in the 80’s with classics like Body Heat, The Big Chill, Silverado and The Accidental Tourist. In the 90’s his track record began to slip with duds like I Love You to Death and Wyatt Earp, and his career stalled after the disastrous reception to his 2003 Stephen King adaptation Dreamcatcher. After his recent success at Lucasfilm it seems like Kasdan is looking to get his directing career back on track.
Are you excited to see Lawrence Kasdan behind the camera again for November Road? Let us know in the comments below!
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
