James Franco has been interested in adapting Cormac McCarthy’s Child of God for some time now, probably because his goal of shooting Blood Meridian proved to be too ambitious (or really, because the deal just fell through – at least for the time being). Whether or not he has Blood Meridian in mind still, Showbiz411 seems confident that James Franco is already down in West Virginia directing and starring in his adaption of Child of God. The only other information that we currently have about the project is that it will costar Tim Blake Nelson and “a number of West Virginia locals” and that Franco says the shoot is going “extremely well” and he is excited to see the results. Now that I know that this sucker is in motion, I can say that I am extremely excited to see this as well. For those unfamiliar with Child of God, it is one of McCarthy’s most bizarre stories. In fact, if you had asked me which of McCarthy’s novels that I would think would be the last to be adapted for the big screen (and I’ve read them all), this would have been the one I singled out. The story follows a murderous sexual predator – with very few redeeming characteristics – named Lester Ballard as he takes on the life of a cave dwelling nomad in the mountains of Tennessee. As he spends more time in isolation, his lust for blood and deviant sex only increase – and I will leave it at that. I highly recommend you read the source before the film comes out. I insist. So, buy the paperback right here or the Kindle edition right here. Or just check it out at your local library. Books are free there, you know. I’m pretty excited to see the direction that Franco takes this film. I can really see no way of sugarcoating the story or playing down the deviant and dysfunctional nature of Lester without lessening the impact of the story. Soon enough, I reckon, we will find out. EDIT: By the way, I am convinced that Tim Blake Nelson is going to be playing the lead of Lester Ballard, not Franco. This isn’t confirmed either way at present, but Nelson is too perfect of a fit for it not to be him.

James Franco has been interested in adapting Cormac McCarthy’s Child of God for some time now, probably because his goal of shooting Blood Meridian proved to be too ambitious (or really, because the deal just fell through – at least for the time being). Whether or not he has Blood Meridian in mind still, Showbiz411 seems confident that James Franco is already down in West Virginia directing and starring in his adaption of Child of God.

The only other information that we currently have about the project is that it will costar Tim Blake Nelson and “a number of West Virginia locals” and that Franco says the shoot is going “extremely well” and he is excited to see the results. Now that I know that this sucker is in motion, I can say that I am extremely excited to see this as well.

For those unfamiliar with Child of God, it is one of McCarthy’s most bizarre stories. In fact, if you had asked me which of McCarthy’s novels that I would think would be the last to be adapted for the big screen (and I’ve read them all), this would have been the one I singled out. The story follows a murderous sexual predator – with very few redeeming characteristics – named Lester Ballard as he takes on the life of a cave dwelling nomad in the mountains of Tennessee. As he spends more time in isolation, his lust for blood and deviant sex only increase – and I will leave it at that.

I highly recommend you read the source before the film comes out. I insist. So, buy the paperback right here or the Kindle edition right here. Or just check it out at your local library. Books are free there, you know. I’m pretty excited to see the direction that Franco takes this film. I can really see no way of sugarcoating the story or playing down the deviant and dysfunctional nature of Lester without lessening the impact of the story.

Soon enough, I reckon, we will find out.

EDIT: By the way, I am convinced that Tim Blake Nelson is going to be playing the lead of Lester Ballard, not Franco. This isn’t confirmed either way at present, but Nelson is too perfect of a fit for it not to be him.

Posted 3 months ago
5 notes
Tagged: cormac mccarthy, child of god, james franco, movies, film, lit, literature, .
  1. misterpeace said: james franco’s reach exceeds his grasp. he is a really mediocre writer. I think he should stop thinking of himself as the genius auteur people want to make him out to be and focus in on acting.
  2. sickeninglyliberal reblogged this from fortuneandglory
  3. awritersruminations said: confession: I can’t stand James Franco. You know I love Cormac to my bones, but I am not excited about this. I wish it was being done by someone else.
  4. fortuneandglory posted this