Jack Huston’s Day of the Fight (review here) was one of the best movies of 2024 that most didn’t see. This criminally underseen boxing gem showed that the talent in Huston’s family (John Huston, Anjelica Huston, and Danny Huston) runs deep, and now he’s landed on his next project behind the camera, and it’s one that David Lynch fans might want to keep track of.
Phoenix Pictures has set Jack Huston’s next directorial effort, Joseph Merrick, a drama about the man most people will know as the “Elephant Man”. David Lynch directed a tragic 1980 movie about the real-life figure, a severely deformed man perceived by people as a freak in 19th-century London. That movie starred John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins.
Huston promises his version will be very different, centering on Merrick’s final months and the life-changing relationships and his transformative journey.
“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.”
Day of the Fight, a boxing drama starring Michael Pitt, John Magaro, Ron Perlman, and Joe Pesci, was filmed in atmospheric black & white, just as Lynch’s The Elephant Man was. While Huston is aiming to make a different kind of biopic, perhaps he’ll stick with a similar color palette?
As for who Huston might cast as Merrick, I wouldn’t be shocked if he dials up Pitt once more. The two made magic together once, why not try again?
