By now, you should be aware that Nick Cave is more than just a singer/songwriter, artist, and musician. On top of his many bands, The Bad Seeds, Birthday Party, and his solo projects, Cave has been involved in dozens of film projects; he and creative partner Warren Ellis have scored over two dozen films—for filmmakers like John Hillcoat, David McKenzie, David Michôd, and Taylor Sheridan—and he’s been the featured player in two documentaries by Andrew Dominik (Cave and Ellis’ score to the “Assassination of Jesse James” remains one of the decades best). The prolific artist is also an essayist, poet, author, and acclaimed writer. On top of his many published books and novels is 2015’s “The Death of Bunny Munro,” which will finally be made, but not as originally intended.
Sky Studios announced that “House Of The Dragon” actor Matt Smith will star and produce in a six-part limited series adaptation of Cave’s darkly comic novel. ‘Bunny’ centers on a door-to-door salesman and sex addict whose life is derailed by dark tragedies.
Written by Pete Jackson (“Somewhere Boy”), the film will be directed by Isabella Eklöf (“Industry,” “Holiday”) and is being produced by Clerkenwell Films (“The End of the F***ing World,” “Misfits”) in association with Sky Studios.
“The Death of Bunny Munro” centers on a middle-aged lothario whose constant womanizing and alcohol abuse comes to a head after his wife’s suicide. A traveling door-to-door beauty-product salesman by day, he and his son go on an increasingly out-of-control road trip around Brighton, over which looms the shadow of a serial killer making his way toward the British city and Munro’s mortality.
Ray Winstone was once going to star in an adaptation of the movie directed by John Hillcoat, but that version never came together.
“Finally, someone with the courage to take on this unholy tale,” said Cave in a statement. “I am thrilled that Sky and Clerkenwell Films are bringing Bunny to life in all his flawed glory, and I can think of nobody better than Matt Smith to play him.”
The series producers are currently searching for a young actor to play Bunny Junior. More soon, but we can’t wait.
