The 18th-century artist Joseph Merrick is probably better known by his stage name, The Elephant Man. He lived an accomplished but troubled life due to various physical deformities, making him an object of fascination and ridicule. Phoenix Pictures has announced that Jack Huston (“Spider-Noir”) will direct the upcoming feature film “Joseph Merrick” based on his life.
“Joseph Merrick” will give a fresh perspective on his remarkable life by focusing on the artist’s last few months. Reflecting upon all the unexpected and unique relationships he developed along the way. Trying to make the audience rethink what they believe they know about Merrick and his journey through this world.
“I’ve long been fascinated by the life of Joseph Merrick — marked by unimaginable adversity, yet defined by his profound kindness, perseverance and strength,” Huston said. “His journey is a testament to what we are capable of when we choose love and compassion over cruelty and indifference. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to explore the lesser-known parts of Joseph’s astonishing life, and I’m honored to have the chance to collaborate with such a passionate and dedicated team.”
Producers for “Joseph Merrick” include Huston, Kate Cohen, Mike Medavoy, and David Dobkin. Michael Peterson, Ilan Sharone, Matt Felker, and Katie Menke for executive produce.
The Long Road to “Joseph Merrick”
“This project has been a labor of love for all of us, and we’ve been relentless in our search for the right filmmaker to bring Joseph Merrick’s story to life,” Medavoy said. “From the moment I saw Jack Huston’s Day of the Fight, I knew he was the perfect choice to tell the story. Among the many things that have excited me is that the way Jack sees this story reminds me of Milos Forman when we made One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I couldn’t be more thrilled about the poetry, wit, and feeling of human empathy that he will bring to this.”
“Merrick has been a passion project for Mike, Kate, and myself. We have been unflinching in our pursuit to find the perfect filmmaker to direct this and bring a fresh perspective to Joseph’s story,” Dobkin added. “I knew Jack Huston was the one when I saw Day of the Fight. His deeply humanistic approach, coupled with his ability to craft visually arresting and emotionally raw storytelling, makes him the perfect fit to helm this film. We could not be more excited to have him on board.”
“Joseph Merrick” is slated to start shooting later this year. We’ll keep you posted on updates about the project as they become available. It’s also an excellent time to revisit the late, great David Lynch‘s seminal film “The Elephant Man.”
