Taika Waititi In Talks To Direct Adaptation Of Percival Everett’s ‘James’ For Universal, Amblin
deadline.comAfter seeing Cord Jefferson win the Adapted Screenplay Oscar for his work on American Fiction, the widely acclaimed adaptation of his 2001 novel Erasure, author Percival Everett has set up his latest book, James, at Universal Pictures, with Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) in talks to direct, Deadline can confirm.
A Pulitzer Prize finalist, Everett will adapt the screenplay and exec produce, alongside Steven Spielberg for Amblin Partners.
A modern reimagining of Mark Twain’s classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn published by Doubleday in March, James watches as the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, meaning that he’ll potentially be separated from his wife and daughter forever.
Subsequently, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town.
Read more on deadline.com
