The next film from Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter, Mud) has secured three great actors. Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer, and Austin Butler have all signed on to star in The Bikeriders, a drama that will be based on photographer Danny Lyon‘s book of the same name.
The concept of this project is somewhat unorthodox, as the film is pulling inspiration from Lyon’s book which consists of a series of photographs of motorcyclists in 1968. Upon its release it wasn’t considered particularly noteworthy, but modern documentary photographers now consider the book a groundbreaking and heavily influential piece of photographic art.
With no real story to translate due to its lack of traditional narrative, Nichols’ film is instead an original story that takes place in the 1960s as a Midwestern motorcycle club goes from a tight-knit community rebelling against the societal norms of the day, to a more ominously dangerous biker gang intent on ousting anyone who goes against them, including original members.
It sounds a little like Sons of Anarchy but with an added touch of arthouse. Nichols has always excelled at stories about interesting characters living what society deems unusual lives, so this is right in his wheelhouse. He last released films in 2016 – the double bill of Midnight Special and Loving.
But this isn’t the only project Nichols is working on. He’s currently in production on Yankee Commandante, which is based on The New Yorker article of the same name by David Grann. Adam Driver will star. That’s currently in production and will likely arrive next year.
Hardy is currently filming Gareth Evans thriller Havoc for Netflix, Comer is working on Adam McKay‘s HBO drama series Big Swiss, and this will likely be one of many projects Butler is cast in after his star-making turn in Baz Luhrmann‘s Elvis. He’s already filming a role in Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune: Part Two.
#Peace.Love.TheBikeriders
