A FIELD IN ENGLAND and KILL LIST director Ben Wheatley has just announced a production start date and lead actor for the long-in-development adaptation of J.G. Ballard's novel, HIGH RISE. Tom Hiddleston will star in the film, which starts shooting in June according to Wheatley's Twitter. Wheatley is shooting from a script by frequent collaborator Amy Jump and will retain the 1970's time period (the book was written in 1975). In addition to the casting and start date announcement, Wheatley shared this sweet promo art created by Jay Shaw:
Here's the book synopsis:
When a class war erupts inside a luxurious apartment block, modern elevators become violent battlegrounds and cocktail parties degenerate into marauding attacks on “enemy” floors. In this visionary tale, human society slips into violent reverse as once-peaceful residents, driven by primal urges, re-create a world ruled by the laws of the jungle.
Having not read the book and taking into account the creative team bringing this to life, HIGH RISE is now officially on my radar (and reading list). It sounds like a really compelling story, almost like an Orwellian version of THE RAID, which is a pretty promising premise (say that three times fast). Definitely a project to watch.
HIGH RISE starts filming in June.
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