HBO Lands Todd Haynes’ MILDRED PIERCE Miniseries Starring Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet has long been attached to star in Todd Haynes’ upcoming miniseries Mildred Pierce based on the James M. Cain novel. However, it wasn’t known who would be showing it.  Now Variety is reporting HBO has landed the five-hour period piece.

Haynes will direct and help write the miniseries along with Jonathan Raymond, who previously wrote the Michelle Williams starrer Wendy and Lucy. Haynes previously wrote and directed the Oscar-nominated Bob Dylan biography I’m Not There. Variety describes Winslet’s role as:

“A proud, single mother struggling to earn her daughter’s love during the depression in middle-class Los Angeles.”

For more on Mildred Pierce, including the Oscar pedigree a feature film adaptation had in 1945, hit the jump.

The 1945 Mildred Pierce adaptation by Michael Curtiz garnered six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and dual nods for Eve Arden and Ann Blyth for best supporting actress. Finally, Joan Crawford won for best actress as well.

Winslet and Haynes bring their own Oscar pedigree as well. Winslet won best actress for The Reader after five previous nominations, while Haynes’ I’m Not There got Cate Blanchet a nomination for best supporting actress.

If the amount of success of past and present can combine, there is little doubt this will be a series worth watching.

Winslet previously appeared in the pilot for Rick Gervais’ Extras on HBO. Haynes will executive produce with Pamela Koffler (Mrs. Harris), Christine Vachon (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), and John Wells (The Company Men). Illene Landress (The Sopranos) will produce in association with MGM.