Director Misha Green won’t be tackling “Tomb Raider 2” next but is instead focusing on an older original thriller project that she co-wrote with Craig J. Flores. A new report from Deadline reveals that Green will be directing “Sunflower” and will see actress Jurnee Smollett (“Spiderhead“) taking a lead role in the new thriller. As per the logline, the Lionsgate pic will focus on “two women struggle to escape from a deranged college professor who holds them hostage on a remote sunflower farm.” However, it’s a mystery who will take on this key character of the villainous college professor that is keeping these folks captive on this isolated farm but certainly sounds like a meaty part to fill.
Green also reveals in a statement that “Sunflower” was the first script she sold in Hollywood and would see her reunite with Smollett after the duo worked together on the H.P Lovecraft-inspired HBO series “Lovecraft Country” and “Underground,” a drama about the Underground Railroad. They also partnered on a “Birds of Prey” spinoff project featuring DC Comics heroine Black Canary, before DC Studios stepped in to focus on their own slate of newly announced film and television projects.
The screenwriter/filmmaker is no stranger to genre material previously working on shows such as “Sons of Anarchy,” “Heroes,” “Helix,” and “Spartacus” before overseeing her own television projects. On the film front, she worked on the script for the Jennifer Lopez action flick “The Mother” which will debut this May on Netflix and was helmed by Niki Caro (“Mulan“).
This exciting news comes after Green had been previously attached to helm a “Tomb Raider” sequel starring Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander (“Ex Machina“) only for the rights to slip through MGM‘s fingers and their new owners Amazon picking them up. A new live-action series from Phoebe Waller-Bridge and a new feature film that will also connect are in early development, but unclear if Vikander will be involved (current signs suggest she won’t). Then again, Green is busy herself with “Sunflower” now on deck to begin shooting this summer, a new overall deal with Apple TV+ alongside a remake of 1973 Blaxploitation film “Cleopatra Jones” in development as well.