David Gordon Green Returns To Romance, Will Write & Direct 'Q'

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by Kevin Jagernauth
November 14, 2011 10:19 PM
5 Comments

No, This Has Nothing To Do With Terrence Malick

This has been a long time coming for David Gordon Green fans who haven't been down with the director's recent output. Of course, Green first made waves with his intimate "George Washington," and before you could say the words The Criterion Collection, he was onto "All The Real Girls" before Terrence Malick himself lent his name as a producer on "Undertow." From there he did "Snow Angels," but the next thing you now, Green fell in with the Apatow gang and didn't seem to look back. The stoner comedy "Pineapple Express" is a classic in the genre (ok, in this writer's opinion) while this spring's "Your Highness" took the same vibe and put it in the context of a medieval fantasy adventure. Next month, Green continues to work his populist juices with the R-rated "The Sitter" but just when you've given up on the helmer returning to his roots, he's got a surprise up his sleeve.

Columbia Pictures is putting the final touches on a deal to nab the rights to Evan Mandery's novel "Q" for Green to write and direct. And while it does share the name of the former Malick project that eventually morphed into "The Tree Of Life," it has nothing to do with it. Instead, the story focuses on a man who is visited by a future version of himself who warns him on his wedding day not to get married to his wife. He listens to himself but spends the rest of his life regretting the decision and tries to fill the void that remains, as future selves continue to advise him. Blending sci-fi, romance, humor and drama this potentially will dip back into a realm Green has been away from for a while.

Of course, when this goes remains to be seen. It's still very early days and for most of the spring, Green has been talking about getting to his long-gestating "Suspiria" remake next year and we would guess that may still be the plan. Or at least the hope. As for the small handful of other projects he's been attached to in the last little while -- the Dustin Lance Black penned "Barefoot Bandit" among them -- word has been quiet and we'd wager they are still on the far backburner for now. But in Hollywood, anything can change.

But regardless, this is certainly a bright piece of news, one that will see the cinephile Green exercise some very different muscles, so we're intrigued. But for now, our next dose of Green arrives on December 9th with "The Sitter." [Variety]

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5 Comments

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Steven Flores | November 15, 2011 9:52 PMReply

Please, let's hope this will redeem DGG.
Rufus | November 15, 2011 10:38 AMReply

Identity crisis? I don't think everything David Gordon Green has done has been great, but I like the fact that the guy that did George Washington (which I own and love) can also do something like Eastbound and Down, and (hopefully) Suspiria. I'm really enjoying following his career.
Francis | November 15, 2011 10:31 AMReply

betcha 10 bucks he'll cast james franco and olivia thirlby in a somewhat quirky and safe romantic take on the material
yer | November 15, 2011 12:10 AMReply

This guy went from being the next Malick to a complete joke, but I still can't give up on him. He'll return to the glory of George Washington and All the Real Girls one day!
Mike | November 14, 2011 11:28 PMReply

Good to hear he's considering ending his identity crisis, his early films were the start of a great career, George Washington & Snow Angels especially.