BONUS EPISODE: The Art of Writing Adaptations with Joe Wright

Today on the show we have Oscar nominated filmmaker and
screenwriter Joe Wright.

Joe has established himself as one of Hollywood’s top directors
with his rare ability to captivate global audiences through his
extraordinary cinematic craft.

Most recently, Wright directed the psychological thriller THE WOMAN
IN THE WINDOW, starring Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, and Gary
Oldman. The film follows an agoraphobic psychologist
whose life is turns upside down when a befriended neighbor
suspiciously disappears. The film was released by Netflix in May
2021.

Previously, Wright directed the war drama the Academy Award winning
film DARKEST HOUR. Written by Anthony McCarten and starring Gary
Oldman as Winston Churchill, the film follows Churchill’s early
days as the British Prime Minister during World War II. At the
90th Academy Awards, the film earned four nominations, including
‘Best Picture’ and won for ‘Best Actor’ and ‘Best Makeup and
Hairstyling’. The film was also additionally nominated for nine
BAFTA Awards including ‘Best Film’ and ‘Best British Film’, four
Critics Choice awards, and a Golden Globe award.

Wright made his directorial debut in 2005 with the critically
acclaimed film PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Starring Keira Knightley,
Matthew Macfadyen and Donald Sutherland, the film was adapted from
the Jane Austen novel of the same name and garnered commercial and
critical success.

Wright received the BAFTA Award for ‘Most Promising Newcomer’ and
also won the ‘Best Director of the Year’ award from the London Film
Critics Circle. The film also received an additional five BAFTA
nominations including ‘Best Screenplay-Adapted’, four Academy Award
nominations including ‘Best Actress’ for Knightley and ‘Best
Original Score’ and two Golden Globe nominations including
‘Best Film’.

His sophomore directorial feature was an adaptation of Ian McEwan’s
ATONEMENT, which was released in 2007 by Universal Pictures.
Reuniting with Keira Knightly and also starring James McAvoy and
Saoirse Ronan, the film opened the 64th Venice International Film
Festival, making Wright the youngest director to ever open the
event.

The film went on to receive thirteen BAFTA Award nominations in
major categories including ‘Best Director’ for Wright and
ultimately won for ‘Best Film’. At the 80th Academy Awards the film
also picked up seven nominations including ‘Best Picture’ and won
for ‘Best Original Score’ and earned seven nominations at the
Golden Globes, winning ‘Best Motion Picture – Drama’ and ‘Best
Original Score’.

In 2012, Wright released his film adaption of Leo Tolstoy’s
historical romantic drama ANNA KARENINA, which first premiered at
the Toronto Film Festival. Marking his third collaboration with
Keira Knightley, the film depicts the tragedy of Russian aristocrat
and socialite ‘Anna Karenina’, whose affair with ‘Officer Count
Vronsky’ leads to her ultimate demise.

His adaptation earned four nominations at the 85th Academy
Awards, six nominations at the BAFTA Awards including ‘Best British
Film’, a Golden Globe nomination, and two Critics Choice
Awards.

Additional filmmaking credits include the 2015 prequel PAN starring
Hugh Jackman; the 2011 action thriller HANNA with Saoirse Ronan;
and the 2009 drama THE SOLOIST starring Jamie Foxx and Robert
Downey Jr.

His new film is the magical Cyrano starring Peter Dinklage, Haley
Bennett, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.

Too self-conscious to woo Roxanne himself, wordsmith Cyrano de
Bergerac helps young Christian nab her heart through love
letters.  This musical adaptation of Edmond Rostand's classic
play tells the story of Cyrano de Bergerac as he pines for the
affections of the beautiful Roxanne, who has fallen in love with
another man named Christian de Neuvillette. Though Cyrano
understands that his social status and physical appearance will
forever keep him apart from his lady love, he offers his skills as
a gifted poet to Christian in an effort to bring the two lovers
together once and for all.

Enjoy my enlightening conversation with Joe Wright.


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