Adapting the Unfilmable: Cormac McCarthy’s Novel to Become a Film

New Regency is set to produce a new film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s 1985 novel Blood Meridian, which is considered his magnum opus but notoriously difficult to bring to the screen. John Hillcoat, who directed another McCarthy adaptation in 2009’s The Road, is set to direct the project. Blood Meridian is based on the events of westward American expansion in the 1850s and follows “the kid” as he gets involved with a gang of rangers who scalp Native Americans.

The novel is known for its violence and themes, making it challenging to adapt. Several attempts have been made to adapt it to film, including one by Tommy Lee Jones in the late 1990s and another by Ridley Scott in the 2000s, but none have been successful. James Franco also gave it a try a few years ago, but the project fell apart due to issues with the book rights. However, with New Regency behind the project, Blood Meridian may finally make it to the big screen.