It hasn’t even been two weeks since Scott Derrickson (‘Doctor Strange’) left the director’s chair for TNT’s ‘Snowpiercer and now someone has already filled the spot. The network has tapped James Hawes (‘Black Mirror’,’Penny Dreadful’) to direct their new ongoing series based off of the graphic novel and feature film.
Derrickson had left the production due to having a “radically different vision” for the series than the new showrunner Graeme Manson. Josh Friedman, the original showrunner, had left the production back in January. According to Derrickson:
“The 72-page Snowpiercer TV pilot script by @Josh_Friedman is the best I’ve ever read. The feature-length pilot I made from that script may be my best work. The new showrunner has a radically different vision for the show. I am forgoing my option to direct the extreme reshoots.”
One has to wonder if this is going to make the show closer to the source material or stray further from it. With both the original showrunner and director having now parted production after a pilot was already shot, it is easy to see how this could be a trainwreck just waiting to happen.
Hawes will be overseeing the “extreme reshoots” for the show’s pilot and is also on board to not just direct the series but be a co-executive producer as well. He’ll be overseeing a cast which includes: Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Mickey Sumner, Susan Park, Benjamin Haigh, Sasha Frolova, Katie McGuinness, Alison Wright, Annalise Basso, Sam Otto, Roberto Urbina, Sheila Vand, and Lena Hall.
What are your thoughts on TNT taking ‘Snowpiercer’ into “a radically different vision” than what had originally been proposed? Do you feel that James Hawes will be able to pull off a hit show for the network? Will the show be closer to the graphic novel, film, or go in an entirely new direction? Share your thoughts below!
Source: Variety
