Todd Field is Adaptating Marilynne Robinson’s Acclaimed Novel “Gilead”

So, it turns out that Martin Scorsese, Kent Jones and Todd Field are very serious in their intentions of adapting author Marilynne Robinson’s acclaimed novels.

Scorsese has already mentioned that he wrote a draft of “Home” with Field and Jones. It does sound like an intimate film, not as epic as the films Scorsese has been making these last 20 years, most of which were these big-budget epics.

Regardless, we have some additional details. It turns out that Scorsese, Field and Jones will next be turning Robinson’s “Jack” into a screenplay and that, additionally, Field is eyeing to adapt “Gilead” as his next film.

Robinson used characters and events from her landmark 2004 novel “Gilead” to publish three more books: “Home” (2008) “Lila” (2014) and “Jack” (2020).

In “Gilead,” an aged narrator, Ames, who has lived his entire life in a small Iowa town, is writing down his life story for his young son. The story of “Gilead” and Ames grew into this series of books, with each of those novels retelling the events of “Gilead” from the perspective of a different character.

There is no word yet on who would direct “Jack,” maybe Jones? But what we’re seeing here is a potentially unique trilogy taking shape. Jones, a former film critic, directed 2019’s critically acclaimed low-budget indie “Diane.”

Now, I don’t know if you remember this, but last March, Field had mentioned that “TÁR” was "highly likely" to be his final film. He gave no reason as to why he would, supposedly, quit directing. Most were very surprised given that he his stock had considerably risen since he released that film.

Before last year’s “TAR,” Field hadn’t made a film since “Little Children” (2006), and before that, his incendiary debut, “In the Bedroom” (2001). He’s directed only three films in 22 years.