Last week, Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke, the co-writer of Coen’s upcoming “Drive-Away Dolls” film, led a Master Class in conversation with critic Kaleem Aftab for the audience at the Tromos International Film Festival in Norway.
And according to the Norwegian site Montages, near the end of the conversation, Coen revealed that he and Joel have written a new script together (something that Coen already said a week ago).
READ MORE: Ethan Coen Says He’s Reuniting With His Brother Joel For An Upcoming Project Together
“It’s a pure horror film, and it gets very bloody. If you like ‘Blood Simple,’ I think you’ll enjoy it,” Coen said (via what Google Translate interprets from the site. Cooke claims that their script was also “horribly funny.”
Something seems off in the translation, though, as I don’t think a single soul would categorize “Blood Simple” as a horror film. Crime thriller, yes. Is that what they actually mean? A film that gets horrific and is horribly funny, maybe?
Ethan and Joel reuniting on a project is not really new per se. In the last few months, both siblings have recently spoken about how their split was not permanent and that they would reunite eventually. Last week, Coen told Empire that he and his brother were “working on writing something” but didn’t divulge details.
Montages say they may have to wait for other projects first, and that tracks as Coen has already lined up his next movie, “Honey Don’t!” with Chris Evans and Aubrey Plaza, and plans a trilogy with Cooke that is loosely being described as a Pulpy B-movie lesbian trilogy.
At the very least, we know what project it isn’t: which is a rumored adaptation of Ross MacDonald’s “The Zebra Striped Hearse.” Joel Coen denied the report at a film event in Berkley. Joel said he and Ethan had written a screenplay for it long ago but weren’t going to be involved in any way, originally or now. It sounds like someone got their wires crossed, perhaps because someone is trying to make that script now.
Here’s the complete Google translation of the Montage’s article’s final graph that talks about this “horror” project.
Finally, Ethan Coen says that he and his brother Joel have written a new script together, and that the plan is for them to once again collaborate on the direction. “It’s a pure horror film, and it gets very bloody. If you like Blood Simple, I think you’ll enjoy it.” Tricia claims that it is also “horribly funny”. All the preparations are done, but Joel may have to finish another project first.
Honestly, I’m very skeptical that the Coens would be making what any horror fan would a “pure horror,” especially if it’s “horribly funny,” but again, I guess we’ll see. Are there any Norwegians in the house? Either way, one suspects both Coen brothers have to handle gestating solo projects before reuniting, but we’ll see.
