2020 didn’t necessarily start off well for writer-director Stephen Gaghan. The Oscar-winning filmmaker released the Robert Downey, Jr.-starring feature “Dolittle,” which was universally panned by critics when it was released in January (the film currently sits at 14% on Rotten Tomatoes). However, that’s not slowing Gaghan down, as he has already signed up for a new project, this time partnering with Amazon on a new film.
According to Deadline, Amazon is developing a new film, “Barbarian Days,” which Gaghan will write and direct. The drama is based on William Finnegan’s bestselling memoir “Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life” and tells the story of a young boy that falls in love with surfing at the age of 8 and has to navigate the typical coming-of-age issues while also trying to become the best surfer he can be.
“There are great surfers and there are great writers, but so rarely is this the same person,” Gaghan said. “Bill is both, and he has written about surfing in a way that is interesting to non-surfers. He just opened it up. Probably because it’s not really about surfing, it’s about time, and mortality, and how a deep, guiding passion can hold us back and propel us forward in unpredictable ways. It’s one of those rare books that once you read it you can’t stop thinking about it. And I’m so happy to be partnering with Ted and Amazon to bring it to the screen.”
Producer Ted Hope added, “Like Bill, Stephen is in a love affair with the water. He knows this world, but it has been our conversations of all the meaning, heartbreak, and discovery that lies beyond the waves that made me see this was more than a film. It has pure cinema written through every page. It is a honor to be part of this great journey and to help Stephen and Amazon bring it to the screen.”
In addition to “Dolittle,” Gaghan is probably best known for his Oscar-winning work as the screenwriter of “Traffic.” He also wrote and directed “Syriana,” which earned him yet another Oscar nomination.