Jennifer Lawrence's True-Crime 1829 Iceland Drama BURIAL RITES Finds a New Director
Jennifer Lawrence is set to star in a feature film adaptation of author Hannah Kent's novel Burial Rites. The film was originally set to be directed by Gary Ross (The Hunger Games) but now the film is being directed by Luca Guadagnino, who recently helmed the film, Call Me by Your Name.
The film is a true crime drama set in northern Iceland in 1829. I assume many of you aren't aware of what this story entails, so here's the official description of the story:
In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnúsdóttir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of two men. Agnes is sent to wait out the time leading to her execution on the farm of District Officer Jón Jónsson, his wife and their two daughters. Horrified to have a convicted murderess in their midst, the family avoids speaking with Agnes. Only Tóti, the young assistant reverend appointed as Agness spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her, as he attempts to salvage her soul. As the summer months fall away to winter and the hardships of rural life force the household to work side by side, Agness ill-fated tale of longing and betrayal begins to emerge. And as the days to her execution draw closer, the question burns: did she or didnt she?
According to Variety, Lawrence will take on the role of Magnúsdóttir. This is a perfect film for her to be a part of and it's the kind of character that will play to her strengths as an actress. The film is set up to be produced by TriStar and president Hannah Minghella said this in a statement:
“Luca is a rare talent. His movies capture an exquisite sense of place inextricably linked to the emotional state of the complex characters he creates. I can’t imagine a more thrilling partnership than Luca and Jennifer coming together to bring Agnes’ beautiful and tragic story to life.”
Producer Allison Shearmur added:
“Luca Guadagnino is a masterful storyteller who brilliantly captures the nuance of the human condition in his films. I cannot wait for him to bring his original voice to the raw, visceral brutality, and poetry of Hannah Kent’s haunting true story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, the last woman to be publicly executed in Iceland for the murder of two men. Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrocchi, and I love this project and we could not be more excited by the way it is coming together with Hannah Minghella’s passion and drive to get it done at TriStar.”
Guadagnino currently has the remake of the horror classic Suspiria in post production, and the thriller Rio with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jake Gyllenhaal in pre-production. He’s also announced a potential Call Me by Your Name sequel.