Lenny Abrahamson Heads For Neverhome

The Frank director will adapt the US Civil War novel

Lenny Abrahamson Heads For Neverhome

by Ben Kirby |
Published on

While his former leading man Domhnall Gleeson is busy in a galaxy far, far away, Frank director Lenny Abrahamson has lined up a very different project for his next effort: Neverhome. It's an adaptation of a novel by Laird Hunt, published in the US this year.

The story follows the as-yet uncast Ash Thompson, a woman who leaves home to take part in the American Civil War. It was partly inspired by An Uncommon Soldier, a collection of letters from an undercover female soldier in the conflict.

Although it won't be published in the UK until February 5, 2015, the novel has already received high praise across the pond, with no less a writer than Paul Auster calling it "magnificent". Abrahamson has been similarly effusive. "Laird has written a truly amazing novel and created in Ash a character so vivid and original," he enthuses. "I could not be more excited about making this film."

Fresh from the critical success of Frank, Abrahamson won't get on to this one straight away. First, he has another literary adaptation in the form of Emma Donoghue's insanely popular novel Room, which is currently being prepped in Canada. Brie Larson is due to star as Ma, whose story was loosely inspired by the dark case of Elisabeth Fritzl.

Both Room and Neverhome are being developed by Dublin production house Element Pictures, which has already collaborated with Abrahamson on What Richard Did and the aforementioned Frank. No release dates have been announced as yet, but we will keep you posted.

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