The last we heard of Paul Greengrass’ peasant revolt film, The Rage, it was to star Matthew McConaughey. But things have changed over the last couple of months, and now at Cannes we’re learning that he has dropped out, and Andrew Garfield could step in to replace him.
Deadline reports Garfield is in talks to star in The Rage, with Focus Features eyeing domestic distribution on the historical drama, reportedly for a hefty $11M sum. Set during the Peasants’ Revolt of England in 1381, the film centers on a farmer who becomes the leader of the revolt. The revolt is sometimes referred to as “Wat Tyler’s Rebellion”, and it is possible Garfield is playing the legendary leader. The conflict arose due to high taxes, plus socio-economic and political tensions following the Black Death and the Hundred Years’ War.
Greengrass will direct from his screenplay. This is a project that has been in the works for a while, and in an earlier version Benedict Cumberbatch was attached to star. The Rage will be Greengrass’ first feature since he directed Tom Hanks in News of the World five years ago. He just wrapped on wildfire film The Lost Bus, starring McConaughey and Jamie Lee Curtis, and expected to hit Apple TV+ later this year.
Garfield was last seen opposite Florence Pugh in the critically acclaimed We Live in Time. Coming up next for him is Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt and The Magic Faraway Tree with Claire Foy.
