A24 To Produce Native Son Book With Ashton Sanders As Lead, Rashid Johnson Directing, Suzan-Lori Parks Adapting ScreenplayPosted by Wilson Morales
March 15, 2018
Source: Deadline
Deadline is reporting that A24 has landed the worldwide rights to produce an adaptation of Richard Wright’s acclaimed novel, Native Son,’ with Moonlight’s Ashton Sanders in final negotiations to take on the iconic role of Bigger Thomas
Rashid Johnson will direct the film from a screenplay written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks.
The film, which will take place in the present day in Johnson’s hometown of Chicago. and Margaret Qualley (Novitiate, The Nice Guys), Nick Robinson (Love, Simon, Jurassic World), KiKi Layne (Barry Jenkins’ upcoming If Beale Street Could Talk) and Bill Camp (The Night Of) are also set. Matthew Libatique (Black Swan, Straight Outta Compton) will be the director of photography.
The film was developed and will be produced by Bow and Arrow Entertainment’s Matthew Pernicaro and Michael Sherman, coming off of Skate Kitchen and Madeline’s Madeline, which both just premiered at Sundance. Production begins April 9.
Johnson began his career as a photographer and has since worked across media to explore ideas about African American identity. His art has been recognized and showcased around the world, taking a major touring exhibition across the U.S. as well as recent solo exhibitions at reputable museums including Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow, High Line Art in New York, and South London Gallery. In 2016, he was appointed to the board of trustees of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Museum, the first artist to be given the honor in nearly 40 years. This will be the first feature film directed by Johnson.
“A24 is active with some of the best filmmakers and films today,” he said. “We’re excited to have a partner that shares our enthusiasm for this amazing and deeply complicated material. We look forward to working with them to bring Richard Wright’s powerful story to life.”
Sanders, who just wrapped Equalizer 2 and stars in Captive State for Focus, is repped by Hyperion and The Savage Agency, and is managed by ESI Network.
