It was just a couple of days ago that we reported on the possible addition of Charlize Theron to the cast of the film adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s DARK PLACES, to be written and directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner. Theron was being rumored to replace Amy Adams in this dark thriller and today we have confirmation that not only will Theron be stepping into the lead role, but she has also signed on to produce the film.
Theron will play Libby Day, a woman who, at the age of 7, survives the massacre of her family and testifies against her brother as the murderer. Twenty-five years later, a group obsessed with solving notorious crimes confronts her with questions about the horrific event.
“We are delighted to be teaming up with Charlize, Mandalay Vision, Stephane, and Gilles to bring this riveting thriller based on Gillian’s best-selling book to a worldwide movie audience. Devoted fans of her book will be delighted to learn that the screen adaptation is coming from such a stellar team of creative filmmakers,” said Nigel Sinclair and Guy East, whose Exclusive Media is financing and producing the film.
Here’s a more fleshed-out synopsis of DARK PLACES:
Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.
The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club… and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.
As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.
With the addition of Charlize Theron to the cast, this film just became more than a blip on my radar. I just have a thing for Ms. Theron (one that many of you reading this probably share) and will use any excuse to watch her in action.
I’ll also use any excuse to throw up a picture of Charlize.