MovieChat Forums > Back Roads (2018) Discussion > starting off on the wrong foot...

starting off on the wrong foot...

posted 8 years ago by Sandoz (2021)
1 reply | jump to latest

It's been awhile since I looked up info for this planned film...I thought the project was dead in the water but I just found out it's actually in production now.

So let's see... Adrian Lyne is no longer the director of this film, despite having co-written the screenplay. Have heard no reason exactly why.

Strike one.

The main character (who is the first person narrator of the book) has been replaced by some pretty-boy English actor whose claim to fame was appearing in that male stripper fluff-tripe Magic Mike film. Oh, and somehow he had enough clout to also step into the role of director of this film.

Strike two.

Lastly, a tale that occurs in Western Pennsylvania (a region that provides huge tax breaks and incentives to filmmakers) is now shooting in Louisiana instead.

Strike three.

Smells like Direct-To-Video to me!

[–] Wuchak (8855) 4 years ago

1. The movie was based on Tawni O'Dell's novel and she co-wrote the screenplay. Lyne's involvement didn't make or break the movie as the story & characters were already written (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Roads_(novel)).

2. Alex Pettyfer doesn't strike me as a "pretty-boy English actor." He had starred in a dozen films by the time he took on this 2nd tier project, including the kick-axx blockbuster "I Am Number Four" (2011). He originally tried out for the role of Harley when Lyne was championing the production. Once Lyne's plans fell through, it was a great opportunity for Alex to to get some experience as a first-time director since he had a passion for the story and the character of Harley.

3. The author is from Western Pennsylvania and so the story naturally takes place there, but it could take place in the 'back roads' of any community in the Eastern USA or Canada, especially since there's little focus on the landscape beyond the lush woods. So being shot in Louisiana made little difference. The producers filmed there because it was cheaper, which is instrumental in small movies like this one.