Casey Affleck Boards Drama “My Abandonment” From “Winter’s Bone” Director Debra Granik (EXCLUSIVE)

〉 Granik is the writer-director of the 2010 Oscar-nominated drama Winter’s Bone.

Triple 9 star Casey Affleck will anchor the upcoming adaptation of Peter Rock’s 2009 novel MY ABANDONMENT. Winter’s Bone writer-director Debra Granik will helm the adventure drama, from a script she’s writing with producing partner Anne Rosellini. Rosellini will produce with Linda Reisman and Anne Harrison of The Danish Girl production company ReVision Films.

The book, which was inspired by a true story, is told from the perspective of a thirteen-year-old girl who lives with her father live in Forest Park, an enormous nature preserve in Portland, Oregon. They inhabit an elaborate cave shelter, wash in a nearby creek, store perishables at the water’s edge, use a makeshift septic system, tend a garden, even keep a library of sorts. Once a week they go to the city to buy groceries and otherwise merge with the civilized world. But one small mistake allows a backcountry jogger to discover them, which derails their entire existence, ultimately provoking a deeper flight.

Affleck, who recently starred in the crime thriller Triple 9 and the Coast Guard drama The Finest Hours, is the first to be cast in the project. He also stars in the festival favorite Manchester By The Sea from director Kenneth Lonergan, which hits theaters during awards season this November. Affleck is also in development with several films as a director, including the Josh Hamilton biopic The Miracle Shot and the Western Far Bright Star. 

Granik is best known for her 2010 adaptation of Daniel Woodrell’s novel Winter’s Bone – which helped launch Jennifer Lawrence’s career and earned the young actress her first Oscar nomination. She directed the 2015 documentary Stray Dog, and is in development with another adaptation, Rule of the Bone, based on the book by Russell Banks.

Filming is expected to start this fall in Portland.

Affleck is repped by WME.

—TO SEE ALL THE PROJECT DETAILS CLICK HERE—

Josh Lyons | Managing Editor