It’s been almost three years since allegations came out against Cary Fukunaga.
That’s why today’s announcement that Fukunaga will be directing his first film since 2021’s “No Time to Die” surprised many. Tom Hardy and Mahershala Ali are set to star in Fukunaga’s “77 Blackout.”
The film, being described as a '“crime thriller,” takes place on a single night, in 1977, when NYC loses power and plunges into chaos and lawlessness. Five rogue police officers formulate a plan to rob three criminal strongholds – the Hong Kong Triads, the Italian Mafia, and the Harlem Mob – all in one night. They have to “navigate a hellish landscape” as years of being overworked and underpaid forces each of them to confront their own morality.
The film sounds great, and it will be going to the Cannes market in a few days. No production date has been set up, but I would have to imagine Ali will be busy these next few months, that’s when he starts shooting Marvel’s “Blade” reboot. Pushback has already occurred on social media against this project ever coming to fruition.
This will be a good test to see if Fukunaga can get this one actually made. In 2021, was accused of pressuring an actress into doing a topless scene for “True Detective” that wasn’t included in her contracted role as a stripper. This opened the floodgates against him.
Months later, in April and May 2022, three women accused Fukunaga of various forms of sexual harassment, including “pursuing relationships with them” on the set of “Masters of Air”. Then on May 31st, 2022, Rolling Stone added new allegations, via "nearly a dozen sources," that Fukunaga pursued younger women on set.
This was all happening as Fukunaga was releasing his latest film, “No Time to Die.”. Before these allegations, Fukanaga broke out with his high-wire directing in the first season of “True Detective.” He also helmed the much-lauded “Beasts of No Nation,” a popular Netflix series, “Manic,” and Daniel Craig’s final Bond movie.
Sony has acquired the feature film rights to "Mouthwashing," the acclaimed psychological horror game. The studio has hired Kusama to direct, and she will bring her most reliable writers, Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, with her.