Of all the upcoming projects I’ve kept an eye on, one of my most anticipated has got to be Paul Verhoeven’s “Young Sinner,” which would be Paul Verhoeven’s first American film in 25 years and would reteam him with “RoboCop” screenwriter Edward Neumeier.
Verhoeven has described “Young Sinner” as an “erotic thriller set in Washington, DC” and once compared it to his 2006 thriller “Black Book,” but “more explosive, and more open-minded to a big audience,”
I’ve been tracking this one for a while and have received a fair share of emails about it. What I will say is that, a few months ago, Verhoeven was still looking for someone to finance the film. Whether anything has changed on that front, I don’t know, but someone, please, support Verhoeven in making this film!
In Paris, to promote the release of his biography, Verhoeven confirms he still intends to make “Young Sinner,” and his description of the film is pure Verhoeven. Sex. Lots of sex.
I’m working on a new movie. “Young Sinner.” It’s political. With my screenwriter of “Robocop’ and “Starship Troopers.” It’s about an Evangelical Christian girl who really likes sex […] She believes in Jesus.
The last decade, Verhoeven, who turns 87 this month, has been supported by French money and made two well-received films in that country, “Elle” and “Benedetta.” However, “Young Sinner” is much more expensive than those films and requires someone who will take the risk and fund this ambitious endeavor.
Last time Verhoeven spoke about this project was earlier last year in an interview with Metrograph’s Eric Kohn. The filmmaker was “preparing” to shoot the political thriller, which would mark his first U.S. film since 2000’s “Hollow Man.” At the time, Verhoeven stated that it could shoot in 2024, but sadly, that didn’t come to fruition.
This is the “Young Sinner” synopsis that was sent over to me last summer:
“Young Sinner” is a political thriller set in Washington, D.C. The heroine, a young staffer who works for a powerful Senator, is drawn into a web of international intrigue and danger, and of course, there is also a little sex.
Verhoeven has described “Young Sinner” as “a more innovative version of movies like “Fatal Attraction” and '“Basic Instinct” and that he “would not be adding all kinds of digital elements. As little as possible.” He added that he’s been consulting with former intelligence officer, Ron Marks, who is informing the filmmaker about Capitol Hill and the spy business.
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.