It’s been clear that we’re experiencing a new Golden Age of television for more than a couple of years now, and refreshingly original storytelling in serialized form doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.  One of the more exciting projects on the horizon is HBO’s anthology cop drama True Detective.  HBO recently ordered eight episodes of the series, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as two detectives who are drawn into the 17-year search for a serial killer in Louisiana.  Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre, Sin Nombre) is onboard to helm all eight episodes of season one, and now they’ve found their female lead in Michelle Monaghan.  Hit the jump for more.

An adaptation of Stephen King’s It is moving from the television to the big screen, courtesy of director Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre).  Fukunaga, who also wrote and directed the 2009 drama, Sin Nombre, will co-write the script with Chase Palmer. Known for the density of his books, King’s It weighs in at a robust 1,104 pages.  Having said that, Fukunaga and Palmer plan to tackle the tale in two films (Palmer previously adapted Frank Herbert’s Dune for Paramount, at a much more manageable 544 pages).  The plot of It centers on a group of loser kids who band together to defeat a mysterious creature who preys on children.  Thinking themselves safe as adults, It comes back to test their mettle once again.  Hit the jump for more on It.

When we first heard about True Detective, an anthology cop drama whose first season will star Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, Anonymous Content was still shopping it around.  Adam wrote, “I’m selfishly hoping it lands on HBO.“  I have great news for you Adam, and readers—it did!  It did land on HBO!  THR reports the premium cable network ordered eight episodes for the first season, scripted by Nic Pizzolatto (The Killing).  McConaughey and Harrelson play two detectives who are drawn into the search for a serial killer in Louisana: “The investigation of a bizarre murder in 1995 is framed and interlaced with testimony from the detectives in 2012, when the case has been reopened.” Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre) will direct all eight episodes of the first season.  If True Detective is successful, the plan is to clean the slate in future seasons with a similar structure, but tell a new story with a different cast.  I am rooting for this and the American Horror Story season two reboot to work.  It opens up an exciting new model for American television—something more involved than a standalone miniseries, but still longform storytelling with a schedule suited for the likes of McConaughey, Harrelson, and Fukunaga.

Following a bit of a mad scramble to replace departing director Gary Ross, Lionsgate seems to have settled on his replacement for the impending Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire.  We recently learned that the studio had narrowed their list down to two choices: Moneyball director Bennett Miller and I Am Legend’s Francis Lawrence.  Now comes word that Lionsgate plans to extend the offer to—drumroll please—Mr. Lawrence!  Hit the jump for more.

Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey are teaming up for what could be one of the most exciting drama series in recent memory.  The two are set to star in the eight-episode first season of True Detective, with Sin Nombre and Jane Eyre director Cary Fukunaga onboard to helm all eight episodes.  The show is described as an “elevated serial narrative” that uses multiple perspectives and time frames.  Harrelson and McConaughey will star as two detectives “whose lives collide and entwine during a seventeen-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana. The investigation of a bizarre murder in 1995 is framed and interlaced with testimony from the detectives in 2012, when the case has been reopened.”  Hit the jump for more on the project, including how long Harrelson and McConaughey plan on sticking around.

Director Gore Verbinski is currently in New Mexico filming his big-budget adaptation of The Lone Ranger starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer.  Depp will play Tonto, the sidekick of the Ranger (Hammer), and the film co-stars Helena Bonham Carter, Ruth Wilson, James Frain, and Tom Wilkinson.  There aren’t any details on the plot, but in October, Depp said they were re-inventing the character of Tonto to be more than a sidekick, and that “Tonto probably believes that The Lone Ranger is his slave, his sidekick.”  Verbinski has now provided some new details on the film along with updates on his other projects including Cary Fukunaga‘s Spaceless, Chris Milk‘s Bitterroot, and the new adaptation of the board game Clue.  Hit the jump for more.

Literary adaptations are a mixed bag. A handful of such films (The Shining, for example) actually surpass the books upon which they are based.  Many more are plain awful.  And countless lit flicks—regardless of the films’ merits compared to those of the books—undergo such far-reaching changes, sacrifices and/or additions to make the stories more filmic as to be only loosely connected to their source material. Cary Fukunaga’s Jane Eyre, the latest of many filmed versions of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, scores high marks both for quality and for being an extremely faithful adaptation. Hit the jump for my full Blu-ray review.

We sat down this week with talented filmmaker Cary Fukunaga to talk about Jane Eyre, his captivating movie based on Charlotte Bronte’s classic romantic novel, which he brought to the big screen this past year. The visually stunning period piece was shot on location in the English Midlands and has a darker Gothic tone to it than previous adaptations. Jane Eyre is set to release on DVD and Blu-ray on August 16^th and was the opening film at this year’s Karlovy Vary Film Festival.

Cary talked with us via Skype from Berlin about what inspired him to do his own fiery adaptation, why he enjoyed working with the film’s impressive cast, and how he collaborated with DP Adriano Goldman on the film’s gorgeous cinematography and with composer Dario Marianelli on its passionate score. He also discussed how the Sundance Institute and his multicultural background and experience have contributed to his success as a global filmmaker, and updated us on his upcoming projects including the Beirut musical he’s hoping to collaborate on with Zach Condon, two untitled sci-fi flicks – one of which is rumored to be in development with producer Gore Verbinski for Universal, and his Civil War heist film, No Blood, No Guts, No Glory, that he’s currently co-writing with Chase Palmer and plans to direct. It’s hard to predict what the eclectic writer/director will do next, but Cary revealed he might even consider an all out comedy in the future. Hit the jump for the full interview.

Director Cary Fukunaga is moving from Gothic period piece to sci-fi drama (as one does). The director has closed a deal to helm the sci-fi film Spaceless for Universal. Heat Vision reports that the story centers on an assassin who awakens to find himself tumbling through space in a space suit equipped with a computer designed to keep him company until he runs out of air. The man must reflect upon how he got into the present circumstances—which includes breaking into a space station to carry out a hit—in order to solve the mystery of his death. He begins to question his reality, however, as he wonders whether he’s actually floating aimlessly through space or trapped in an artificially created environment.

Gore Verbinski is producing, and Fukunaga will rewrite the screenplay that was written on spec by Jeff Vintar. I was a big fan of Jane Eyre, so I’m intrigued to see his take on the sci-fi genre. And may I suggest a re-teaming with Michael Fassbender, please? The director also recently attached himself to write and direct the Civil War-set heist film No Blood, No Guts, No Glory.

Focus Features has set Cary Fukunaga (Jane Eyre) to direct its Civil War-centered heist film No Blood, No Guts, No Glory. Variety reports that Fukunaga is writing the screenplay alongside Chase Palmer (Dune). Palmer’s script landed on the 2009 Black List and follows a spy and a group of Union soldiers who board a train to Georgia in disguise in hopes of pulling off a heist that apparently would bring the Civil War to an end.

The story has been described as The Dirty Dozen set during the Civil War, and is based on the real-life commando mission that inspired the Buster Keaton flick The General. The report also states that Fukunaga had been eyed as a possible contender to helm Fox’s The Wolverine, but he’s no longer in contention. I was quite impressed with his work in Jane Eyre. He definitely understands story and mood, and seeing him take on the Civil War era is certainly an intriguing prospect.

There’s a vast gulf between adapting a gothic period romance and connecting with a modern audience.  Director Cary Fukunaga doesn’t give a damn about that gulf and his adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre is a lush, confident, and powerful film as a result.  Fukunaga embraces the gothic atmosphere to create a haunting portrayal of a romance between a young woman who never loses her sense of self-worth despite the constant cruelty she receives and a man who has attempted to become aloof in order to hide a bizarre and horrifying secret.  Anchored by tremendous performances from lead actors Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender, Jane Eyre plays on its own terms and audiences who understand the game will be richly rewarded.

Focus Features has released the first images from director Cary Fukunaga’s (Sin Nombre) Jane Eyre and Lone Scherfig’s (An Education) One Day.  Jane Eyre is based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel and it stars Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Holliday Grainger, Sally Hawkins, Tamzin Merchant, Imogen Poots, and Judi Dench.  One Day is adapted from the internationally praised bestselling novel by David Nicholls and it stars Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess as two people who meet on the night of their college graduation (July 15th, 1988).  “For the next two decades, every July 15th reveals to us how [they] are faring, as their friendship ebbs and flows with the passing of the years.”

Hit the jump for the images and the full synopses.

Yesterday, we brought you the poster for Cary Fukunaga’s upcoming adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.  Today, we have the trailer for the film, which stars Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Sally Hawkins, and Judi Dench.  The trailer makes the film look like it has a slight supernatural bent in addition to the expected drama culled from class struggles and forbidden romance.  It’s not easy to sell period pieces, but this trailer isn’t a bad attempt.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  Jane Eyre is set to open on March 11, 2011.

Focus Features has debuted a striking poster for Cary Fukunaga’s adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.  The poster lets us know that the movie explores how we all have a Michael Fassbender face inside of us.  Actually, it’s a classic work of 19th century literature that explores themes of morality, social class, and love, but I like my interpretation more.

Hit the jump to check out the poster and the synopsis.  Jane Eyre stars Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, and Judi Dench.  It’s set to open on March 11, 2011.

Focus Features has announced the release dates for its 2011 films.  The Eagle of the Ninth has been pushed back from September 24th to February 25, 2011.  The film is a Roman epic adventure directed by Kevin Macdonald (State of Play) and starring Channing Tatum of Jamie Bell.  Jane Eyre, directed by Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre), has landed the date of March 11, 2011.  Based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, the film stars Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender.  Moving on, the action-thriller Hanna is set for April 8, 2011.  The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana with Joe Wright (Atonement) directing.  Finally, One Day, starring Anne Hathaway, will be released in the third quarter of 2011.  The film is directed by Lone Scherfig (An Education).

Hit the jump for the full press release, which includes synopsis for all of the films.