Last year, Variety reported that Adam Pearson (“A Different Man”) had been cast as Joseph Merrick in a new film adaptation of “The Elephant Man.” This version, based on Bernard Pomerance’s Tony Award-winning play, has a screenplay written by Pomerance’s son, Moby Pomerance.
What was particularly curious about Variety’s reporting was the absence of any director attached. As far as I know, there are currently two other ‘Elephant Man’ projects in development—one by Jack Huston and another by Kornél Mundruczó.
I can now confirm that Oliver Hirschbiegel will direct the Pearson-starring ‘Elephant Man.’ Hirschbiegel will forever be known as the director of “Downfall,” a great 2005 film tackling Hitler’s final days, which also spawned the endlessly parodied “Hitler Reacts” meme built from Bruno Ganz’s unforgettable bunker meltdown scene.
However, Hirschbiegel’s actual breakout came four years earlier with “Das Experiment.” There was a brief stint in Hollywood soon after those two films, which included directing “The Invasion,” with Nicole Kidman, and a much-maligned Princess Diana biopic starring Naomi Watts.
Pearson’s casting in this project is both practical and inspired. While it may reduce the need for extensive makeup, it also reflects a thoughtful choice in representation. Pearson delivered a standout performance in “A Different Man,” and he was also notable in Jonathan Glazer’s “Under the Skin,” where he appeared alongside Scarlett Johansson.
Merrick, aka “The Elephant Man,” was a severely deformed man in 19th-century London who was exploited as a sideshow attraction before being taken in by the compassionate Dr. Frederic Treves.
David Lynch’s 1980 film, shot in black and white, was a critical and commercial success and remains one of the great biopics of the 20th century, earning eight Oscar nominations, including Picture, Director, and Actor. It’s pretty wild that there are now three films about the same man currently in development, but I’m hearing Hirschbiegel’s film will be the first one up, as it’s eyeing a shoot for later this year.