Draft:Blood Meridian (film)

Blood Meridian is an upcoming American western film directed by John Hillcoat and is based on the novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy.

Plot
A young boy finds himself amongst a group of ruthless scalphunters in the 1850's.

Production
An adaptation of the novel by Cormac McCarthy was toyed with for several years. In an interview in 2010, director Michael Haneke stated he considered making the film, but found it "too bloody". In 2013, Ridley Scott discussed a since abandoned adaptation he planned to direct, with William Monahan penning the screenplay. Scott stated the reason it went unmade was because several film studios were unwilling to produce it. In 2014, James Franco uploaded a 25 minute test film to Vice magazine's website starring Dave Franco, Scott Glenn, Luke Perry and Mark Pellegrino. In February 2016, director John Hillcoat, having previously directed another McCarthy adaptation The Road, stated he was interested in making the film, with McCarthy himself offering to adapt the screenplay for him, but said that producer Scott Rudin was preventing it. Development on an adaptation first began during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, when it was announced that Franco would direct and star in the film, alongside Russell Crowe, Tye Sheridan and Vincent D'Onofrio. However, the project was cancelled the same day after it was revealed the film rights had not been granted.

In April 2023, it was announced New Regency was producing the adaptation, with Hillcoat set to direct the film. McCarthy will serve as an executive producer alongside his son John Francis. In early June, Hillcoat revealed McCarthy would be writing the adaptation, however McCarthy would die later that month. Hilcoat stated that McCarthy had begun to write the screenplay, but progress slowed prior to his death. In April 2024, it was announced John Logan was now writing the screenplay.