It’s been seven years since Kathryn Bigelow released her last film, “Detroit.” It turns out the Oscar-winning filmmaker has had a project brewing since March 2022, which is when she signed on to direct “Aurora” for Netflix.
The film is an adaptation of screenwriter David Koepp’s novel of the same name. It’s been almost two years since it’s been announced, and we were starting to wonder what exactly was happening with the film. Was it scrapped?
The very reliable folks over at Whats-On-Netflix have intel that it’s definitely not been scrapped and that an “early 2024” production date is being eyed by Netflix, Bigelow and company. Here’s the synopsis for “Aurora”:
The novel, set in Aurora, Illinois, has a mother and her teenage son forced to fend for themselves in the wake of a massive power outage. The blackout, which could last for years, results in a society without rules. As the rule of law is collapsing, the mother’s estranged brother, a self-made billionaire who abandoned her years ago, retreats to a gilded desert bunker where he can ride out the crisis in perfect luxury.
Last November, Netflix boss Scott Stuber, before his departure, told Collider that it wasn’t just “Aurora,” but several other projects that Bigelow had cooking over at the streaming service:
We're really pushing Kathryn Bigelow's next movie and working with her on a couple of things. She’s one of the greats, and we all need another Kathryn Bigelow movie. We need it so badly. So we're trying. We've got multiple pots on the stove for her because she's one of my…I idolize her, and she's one of the coolest, greatest artists there is, so it would be a dream come true to be able to make a movie with her.
Bigelow is the maverick filmmaker behind “The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” Near Dark,” “Point Break,” and the highly underrated “Strange Days.” She was one of the hottest filmmakers in the aughts, having directed two Best Picture nominees, including a winner.
As mentioned, “Detroit” was her last film and it garnered polite reviews when it was released back in 2017. Ever since then it’s been radio silence for the Oscar winner. Let’s hope that “Aurora” is indeed Bigelow’s comeback.
Still no distributor for "Bucking Fastard," "Alpha Gang," "The Last Photograph," "Closing Night," and "The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd." The issue seems to be quality more than a lack of willingness to buy.