Before “The Rider” director Chloe Zhao helms the big screen adaptation of Jack Kirby’s “The Eternals” for Marvel and Disney, she will be going back to the American west for a final artful statement.
Zhao is already shooting her next movie, titled “Nomadland,” and it stars Frances McDormand as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad. Any cinephile worth his or her salt would be foolish not to have this at the top of their must-see lists as “The Rider” was a groundbreaking merging of fiction and non-fiction filmmaking.
I was disappointed by the decision of Zhao signing on to a Marvel movie, but we will be getting a final hurrah before she goes down the path of the devil.
Fox Searchlight has picked it up for release and it will also feature the talents of Oscar nominee David Strathairn alongside newcomers Linda May and Charlene Swankie.
Fox Searchlight announced the acquisition today via press release:
“We are thrilled to work with visionary filmmaker Chloé Zhao on NOMADLAND. Her unique voice, combined with the extraordinary talent of Frances McDormand, makes it an important and compelling story,” said Fox Searchlight Pictures Chairmen Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula. Here’s the official synopsis:
NOMADLAND is a road movie following Fern (McDormand), a woman in her sixties, who after losing everything in the Great Recession embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad. A signature of Zhao’s, the film includes real people turned actors including Linda May and Charlene Swankie.
“As I fell in love with the American West, it was impossible not to become fascinated with the roads that lead to the many adventures beyond the horizon,” Zhao said in a statement. “I’m very fortunate to be able to hit the road with a talented team and collaborate with a cast of professional and non-professional actors who are deeply giving and inspiring. I can’t wait to share their stories and what we’ve discovered along the way.”