Cary Fukunaga will develop, produce and direct an untitled father-son drama for A24, the company announced Thursday.
The drama is based on the real life story of Joe and Jadin Bell. Jadin, a fifteen-year-old openly gay sophomore, who took his own life after being both bullied at high school and struggling for acceptance from the people closest to him. In the wake of Jadin’s suicide, Joe is plunged into a sea of remorse and regret. Attempting to work through his grief, Joe sets out on a walk across America, hoping to promote awareness about the consequences of prejudice to anyone he encounters along the way.
“Brokeback Mountain” duo Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana will write the script.
The film marks the first project to be developed from script to screen by A24, which is producing the film along with Fukunaga’s Parliament of Owls production company, Daniela Taplin Lundberg and Riva Marker of Red Crown Productions, and Eva Maria Daniels of VisionChaos Productions. Daniel Crown of Red Crown will executive produce.
“Joe and Jadin Bell’s story is a poignant reminder of how precious life is, and a life-affirming example of love transcending the prejudice and victimization familiar to many,” said A24 in a statement. “Cary is a truly exceptional filmmaker. We are honored to help bring his vision of this incredible true story to screen. With the legendary talents of Larry and Diana writing the script, we have no doubt this will be a profoundly emotional and unforgettable film.”
Fukunaga most recently and famously shepherded and directed the entire first season of HBO’s “True Detective.” He has also completed work on feature film “Beasts of No Nation,” starring Idris Elba, which will be released exclusively on Netflix.
He is represented by WME and Anonymous Content, the latter of which also reps Ossana and McMurtry.