Mike Newell To Direct ‘On Chesil Beach’ By ‘Atonement’ Author Ian McEwan
Back when MGM’s financial woes put plans for Bond 23 onindefinite hiatus, directorSam Mendessigned on to direct aquick featuretitledOn Chesil Beach, based on a 2007 novella byAtonementauthorIan McEwan. But now that thoseBondissues have worked themselves out, Mendes ishard at workonSkyfall, andOn Chesil Beachhas fallen into the hands of another filmmaker.Mike Newellis now attached to helm the picture, an intimate drama about a young couple on their wedding night. More details after the jump.
Newell has been working steadily for decades, with titles likeFour Weddings and a FuneralandDonnie Brascoon his resume, but his biggest recent success was probably 2005’sHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Since then, he’s directedLove in the Time of CholeraandPrince of Persia: The Sands of Time, both creative disappointments. He’s currently filming the Charles Dickens adaptationGreat Expectations, withHelena Bonham Carterand Jeremy Irvine.
McEwan’s story centers around a young couple, both virgins, as they prepare to consummate their union on their wedding night in 1962. Having grown up in the repressed ’50s, neither knows very much about sex; while Edward is understandably nervous, Florence is absolutely dreading their impending encounter. As we learn more about the characters' personalities and histories, it becomes clear how each came to this point.
A lot of McEwan’s book is about the things the couple can’t or won’t express to each other, so ideally, the roles would go to actors who can work with subtlety and restraint. As of last year, Mendes was said to be courting Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield for the two leads. Neither is attached to the project at this point, as far as we know, and we’ve yet to hear whom Newell might be interested in casting.
