Oscar nominated “Room” director Lenny Abrahamson has rightly been keeping things a bit chill since February. With his picture netting Brie Larson a Best Actress win, Abrahamson has finally gotten off the press circuit for the movie, but don’t think for a second he’s been putting his feet up. The filmmaker has lots of work on his plate including “The Little Stranger,” which will reteam him with “Frank” star Domhnall Gleeson, the true story boxing tale “A Man’s World” and Hulu series “Chance” starring Hugh Laurie. And one more gig is being added to the pile.
Film4 and Element Pictures have snapped up the rights to Neal Bascombe‘s next book “The Grand Escape,” with Abrahamson slated to direct. The author is still writing it, but the cinematic appeal is pretty clear, with the true story tale following three World War I pilots who escape a German POW camp and make their way to freedom. No word yet on who will write the script, but I’d presume Abrahamson will want a hand in it.
But with “The Grand Escape” yet to be published, the movie is likely on the backburner. At one time “The Little Stranger” was supposed to shoot this summer, but things seem to have gone quiet around that picture. But “Chance,” for which Abrahamson will direct a handful of episodes, is apparently aiming to debut this year on Hulu, so I’d wager that’s where the filmmaker’s focus is at the moment. [Variety]
