Jake Gyllenhaal And Denis Villeneuve To Reteam On Adaptation Of Jo Nesbo Crime Novel

The Son follows Enemy and Prisoners.

Enemy Jake Gyllenhaal
A24

Following on from Enemy and Prisoners, Jake Gyllenhaal is set to team-up with director Denis Villeneuve once again for an adaptation of Jo Nesb's The Son.

The book, which comes from outside the Norwegian author's more well-known Harry Hole series, tells the story of Sonny Lofthus, a once gifted and promising wrestler whose life starts to fall apart when his father commits suicide. After 12 years in prison, he escapes after learning the truth about his father's death, and sets out on a mission of find the people responsible.

The continuation of the pair's collaboration is great news for film fans, terrible news for writers who have to try and spell both of their surnames. This latest movie (news of which comes via The Hollywood Reporter) seems right up their street as well, coming after dark thrillers Prisoners and Enemy. It's not confirmed what role Gyllenhaal has in the movie, but the description of the lead character sounds like the sort of tortured and disturbed figure he could absolutely nail.

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Gyllenhaal's new production company Nine Stories is co-producing this one alongside Bold Films, and producer Riva Marker (of Nine Stories) said:

"Denis is one of the most inspiring filmmakers working today, and partnering with him on The Son represents everything that Jake and I strived for when we launched the company. Provocative and edgy material in collaboration with a visionary storyteller. We were attracted to The Son because beneath its dark and violent exterior is a universal story about a man who seeks the truth."

After their previous films, this sounds like a great fit for the pair, although there's no word yet on when we can expect it. Villeneuve, who's got a rapidly-growing reputation in Hollywood, has sci-fi Story of your Life out this year, and then the Blade Runner sequel. Gyllenhaal's upcoming projects include Tom Ford's next film, Nocturnal Animals, and Stronger, a film about the Boston Marathon bombing.

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Are you excited to see the pair reunite? Let us know in the comments.

Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.