After getting his Disney paycheck for “Mufasa,” Barry Jenkins has found his next film and not only will it keep him working within the big studio system, but it’ll also star Glen Powell.
Deadline is reporting that Universal has landed hot package “The Natural Order” with Jenkins on board to direct and Powell attached to star. We expect more casting to be announced in the coming weeks, and who knows, maybe it’ll shoot this year.
The project sounds like another big budget effort for Jenkins. Based on Matt Aldrich’s unpublished manuscript, the pitch going around town has the upcoming film billed as an “elevated sci-fi thriller” revolving around the pursuit of eternal life. Jenkins and Aldrich (“Coco”) are co-writing the screenplay.
Powell is everywhere these days. His roles in “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Anyone But You,” and “Hitman” have opened up many doors for him. He recently led the summer blockbuster “Twisters,” and is set to star in upcoming films from JJ Abrams, Edgar Wright, and John Patton Ford.
As for Jenkins, one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of the last 10 years, is most known for his Oscar-winning “Moonlight,” a film that was released at the right place and the right time, in 2016. I don’t necessarily think it’s aged that well, but Jenkins is very talented — especially when he frames those gorgeous close-ups.
Jenkins’ last film was “Mufasa,” a peculiar big studio venture for him. Jenkins was accused of “selling out” after hopping onboard the Disney-backed prequel, and he shot back at his critics, a few times, including on social media (“Bruh, What Kind of Logic is That?"). A few months later, he would admit that his experience shooting the VFX-heavy movie was “not my thing.”