As the world awaits the theatrical release of Paul Schrader‘s latest outing, “Master Gardener” on May 19, news arises of his purported next picture. So what’s Schrader up to next? How about a reunion with “American Gigolo” star Richard Gere?
The Film Stage reports that Schrader and Gere will work together for the first time in 43 years on the director’s next film. The project also serves as an indirect reunion with another Schrader collaborator. Schrader will adapt Russell Banks‘ 2021 novel “Foregone,” about a Vietnam draft dodger turned documentary filmmaker dying in a Montreal hospital who asks an acolyte to film his deathbed confessions. Gere would ostensibly be playing the filmmaker, but no confirmation on that yet.
For those who don’t remember, Schrader adapted another Banks novel, “Affliction,” to much critical acclaim in 1997. So, while this project isn’t the film set in Puerto Rico Schrader talked about at NYFF last Fall, it’s an intriguing one nonetheless. And a couple other bits of intrigue in Schraderland. #1: Schrader optioned a script to Elizabeth Moss for her feature directing debut after many years of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” A Moss-Schrader team-up? Not a bad look.
And #2: Schrader is in talks to helm a script of Antoine Fuqua‘s called “Three Guns At Dawn.” Is that script a Western? No, not quite. Instead it’s about three brothers — a dirty cop, a serial killer, and a drug dealer — who hate one another equally, and presumably meet up for a standoff at some point to off each other.
Will any of these three projects move forward? Only time will tell. But Schrader works quickly for a 76-year-old, so count on him to get something moving soon.