Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson is in negotiations to helm CHAPPAQUIDDICK, the period drama written by Andrew Logan and Taylor Allen that landed on both the 2015 Hit List and Black List. Mark Ciardi and Campbell McInnes are producing through Apex Entertainment, along with Chris Fenton and Chris Cowles of DMG Entertainment, and writers Logan and Allen executive producing.
The story takes both a historically factual and thrilling look at what really happened when, in July of 1969–on the eve of the moon landing–Ted Kennedy drove off the road into a Martha’s Vineyard bay with Mary Jo Kopechne in the car. The script chronicles what is described as the seven most dramatic days of Kenney’s life.
Taylor-Johnson, who marked her feature debut with the 2009 indie Nowhere Boy, made a leap into the realm of big-budget Hollywood franchises with February’s Fifty Shades of Grey, based on the bestselling novel by E.L James. The film, despite its failure to impress critics, rounded up over $500 million internationally.
Apex developed the script with DMG and will finance the film, which is currently casting with an expected start date in early spring.
Taylor-Johnson is repped by UTA and Brillstein Entertainment.
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Josh Lyons | Associate Editor
