Magnolia Pictures has finally announced release plans for the film adaptation of Jack Ketchum’s Red. ‘Bout damn time!
For those unaware, the third film made from Ketchum’s amazing novels (the previous two being The Girl Next Door and The Lost, both incredible films) was to be directed by Lucky McKee (May), who completed the film and apparently did a pretty good job of it, or so the story goes. But someone higher up must have disagreed, because soon after he was fired and replaced by Trygve Allister Diesen, a Norweigian director (as if he could be anything else with that name…) behind three feature films and a couple tv series.
Both directors are credited on the movie, so we’ll see what become of it.
Red will hit theaters on August 8th in NYC and LA, and will expand to more theaters in the weeks following.
It’s going to be interesting to see what tactic they took at adapting this largely internal story of an old man seeking revenge on a group of teens who killed his dog, Red. I do think Brian Cox is a great choice here, playing against type as the protagonist. If this is as faithful to Ketchum’s last two horrific small town tales, we’re all in for a (doggie) treat. Keep an eye out.