The Power of the Dog film adaptation picked up by Netflix

The Power of the Dog film adaptation starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Avengers: Endgame, Brexit, Good Omens) and Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale, Us, Her Smell) has been purchased by Netflix, who picked up the worldwide rights to the Western at the Cannes film market, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

We are so excited to bring The Power of the Dog, Jane Campion’s first feature film in over a decade, to Netflix and select theaters in 2021. Adapted from the 1967 Thomas Savage novel, the film will star Benedict Cumberbatch and Elisabeth Moss. pic.twitter.com/8weqRYqfpv — Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) May 30, 2019

Jane Campion (The Piano, Top of the Lake) wrote the screenplay and will direct the project. The book, written by Thomas Savage, tells a story of wealthy Montana brothers Phil (Cumberbatch) and George Burbank. Phil is brilliant and cruel, while George is fastidious and gentle. Together, they are joint owners of the biggest ranch in their Montana valley. When George secretly marries local widow Rose (Moss), an angry Phil wages a relentless war to destroy her by using her son Peter as a pawn.

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The project comes from See-Saw Films and Big Shell Films/Max Films in association with Brightstar. Roger Frappier of Max Films, who originally had the rights to the novel, offered the property to Campion after the two meet at a recent Cannes Film Festival. Tanya Seghatchian of Brightstar will produce, with Emile Sherman and Iain Canning driving the financing and physical production.

BBC Films has also helped develop the production, with BBC Films’ rose Garnett, Simon Gillis of See-Saw and John Woodward of Brightstar serving as executive producers. The Power of the Dog will go into pre-production at the end of this year.

Netflix will release The Power of the Dog in 2021 on Netflix and in theaters. Transmission Films will release theatrically in Australia and New Zealand.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)