After success with 2023’s The Killer, David Fincher is back to direct another story riddled with death.
In 1951 Alfred Hitchcock, one of the most renowned filmmakers ever, released the crime thriller Strangers On The Train. The film follows two strangers, Guy Haines (Farley Granger), an athlete, and Bruno Antony (Robert Walker), a socialite with psychopathic tendencies, who meet by chance on a train.
The latter suggests a perfect murder scheme, killing each other’s unwanted individual and providing each other with an alibi for the events.
A simple premise with some dark undertones… sounds right up David Fincher’s alley! The project, under the title Strangers, was first announced in 2015 and was originally penned by Gillian Flynn, best known for writing the books and subsequent adaptations Gone Girl (directed by David Fincher) and Sharp Objects.
The film was commissioned by Warner Bros, who had previously worked with Fincher on Se7en and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and had Ben Affleck attached to star, following his performance in Gone Girl. This version of the film would follow a movie star in the middle of Oscar season. The character’s private plane would break down and he would be given a ride to L.A. by a rich stranger.
It is unknown how the plot of Hitchcock’s original film would fit into this version, but disaster struck in 2017 when the film was put on hold. The information was revealed by writer Gillian Flynn in an interview with Vulture’s Jenny Peters.
“We’re all so overcommitted right now that we’ll see on that one.”
Gillian Flynn via Vulture
There has been little news since the reveal but World of Reel’s Jordan Ruimy reported on April 5th, 2024 that the film was now back in active development. It is unknown if this film will be in development at Warner Bros, Netflix (where Fincher has a multi-year deal spanning until 2027) or perhaps a dual production between the two giants.
That as it may be, however, Ben Affleck is still involved in the production of the film but it is unknown if he will still star as he is only “loosely” involved as per Ruimy. Additionally, the film will reportedly now follow Hitchcock’s original transport mode of choice — a train. It can only be speculated if the original movie star-focused script will be transformed to fit the train setting or if it will be overhauled completely.
As reported by World of Reel, this shall be his next project, but he is currently also working on an American Squid Game remake as reported by Jeff Sneider and the currently untitled Chinatown prequel series.
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