'Hatchet' Film: Netflix and Derek Cianfrance to Adapt Gary Paulsen's Survival Novel (Exclusive)
Netflix is developing an adaptation of Gary Paulsen's 1987 young adult survival novel 'Hatchet.' The film will be written and directed by Derek Cianfrance, best known for films like 'Blue Valentine' (2010) and 'The Place Beyond the Pines' (2012). Andrew Mittman, whose company 1.21 is behind Netflix's series 'Wednesday,' will serve as producer. 'Hatchet' […]
Netflix is developing a feature-length adaptation of Gary Paulsen's 1987 survival novel The Hatchet.
The film will be written and directed by Derek Cianfrance, best known for such films as "Blue Valentine" (2010) and "The Place Beyond the Pines" (2012). Andrew Mitman, whose 1.21 company is behind Netflix's "Wednesday," serves as producer.
The Hatchet was published in 1987 and won the Newbery Medal, one of the most prestigious awards for children's literature. It remains widely popular today. According to the official description, "Hacht" follows the story of 13-year-old Bryan Robson, who is stranded alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash, with nothing but the hash his mother gave him. Paulsen later expanded the story into a five-book series that included The River (1991), The Winter of Brian (1996), The Return of Brian (1999), and The Hunt for Brian (2003). Related Stories 'Artificial' Review: Luca Guadagnino Makes Real Sequel to 'The Social Network' - A High-Tech Drama Documentary, Starring Andrew Garfield and Yura Borisov in 'Godzilla Minus Zero' Review: Godzilla and King Ghidorah in 'The Great Battle of Ghidola' in 'The Great Battle for Yesterday'
The film is being produced in partnership with Paulsen's ownership, which was instrumental in selecting Cianfrance to lead the project after years of keeping the IP off the market. The estate is repped by Jennifer Flannery and Sandy Weinberg, who serve as executive producers along with Ruth Wright Paulsen and James Wright Paulsen. Before that, the only adaptation of "Hacht" was the 1990 TV movie "Scream in the Wild." Popular in Variety
Mitman brought the project to Netflix amid the streamer's efforts to invest more in thrillers after the releases of "Apex" and "Sour," both of which debuted with more than 36 million views earlier this year. Kai Dolbashian executive produces Hatchet via 1.21.
Cianfrance is represented by CAA and attorney Michael Schenkan at Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson + Christopher, LLP.