Todd Haynes Is Working On A Limited TV Series About The '70s 'Source Family' Cult, Plus First 'Carol' Reactions From Cannes

Search
Home

Reactions are pouring out of Cannes as we speak for Todd Haynes’ much anticipated “Carol” starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. The buzz sounds like a slam dunk, and even possibly Palme d’Or frontrunner. Reactions are positively ecstatic, with many believing the film — dated for a December 18 release yesterday by The Weinstein Company — will be a sure Oscar frontrunner in the fall. Considering it’s been eight years since Haynes made a feature length film, 2007’s prismic Bob Dylan “I’m Not There.,” this is heartening news.

Of course, Haynes did make something in the interim, “Mildred Pierce,” a limited series for HBO starring Kate Winslet, which was arguably like a sumptuous and gorgeous four-hour movie as good as anything he’s ever made. Apparently Haynes loved the longform medium of a limited series. According to a ScreenDaily interview, Haynes is planning a return to television in a similar format to “Mildred Pierce.”

READ MORE: Cannes Review: Todd Haynes’ ‘Carol’ Starring Cate Blanchet And Rooney Mara

“There are other things I’ve thought of that could only be handled in that way, with a bigger palette and more extended shape,” Haynes said. “I’m conceiving a limited series based on events that really occurred in the early ’70s in L.A. based on the ‘The Source Family’ documentary.”

In case you haven’t seen it, our review here, the ‘Source Family’ was essentially about a cult and cult leader. The doc’s official synopsis reads:

The Source Family was a radical experiment in ’70s utopian living. Their outlandish style, popular health food restaurant, rock band, and beautiful women made them the darlings of Hollywood’s Sunset Strip; but their outsider ideals and the unconventional behavior of their spiritual leader, Father Yod, caused controversy with local authorities. They fled to Hawaii, leading to their dramatic demise. You can watch the trailer below.

The 20 Most Anticipated Films Of The 2015 Cannes Film Festival

As film turns towards tentpoles, superhero movies, and event pictures, Haynes praised the small screen and streaming outlets for having more adventurous taste.

“The cable world is offering directors a new rage of opportunities,” he said. “There’s a healthy sense of competition within cable and streaming entities now, they’re actively looking for problematic subject matter and characters who are not just lovable. That’s encouraging.”

So, a Todd Haynes miniseries based on ‘70s cult, their crazy rock band, and their eventual demise? We’re there. In the meantime, the director’s latest effort for cinema appears to have gone over like gangbusters. Tweet reactions below. Our own review should be in either later today or early tomorrow. Update: our review is right here. “Carol” hits theaters December 18, but knowing the Weinsteins, you should probably expect it to show up all over the fall film festival circuit too.