Fred Hechinger, fresh off the release of Preparation for the Next Life, has signed on to star in Andrew Haigh’s new feature, A Long Winter.
The project, which has been in the works for some time, will be directed by Haigh from his own script, continuing the filmmaker’s tradition of writing and directing his films. While details remain under wraps, the story is said to follow Louise, the troubled mother of Mike (played by Hechinger) and Tommy. After a heated argument with her husband, Lester, Louise heads out on foot with her dog to her brother Frank’s home, miles away. A sudden snowstorm engulfs the region, forcing Lester and Mike to begin a desperate search—a mission that soon expands with the help of neighbours and local authorities.
Haigh, who most recently helmed All of Us Strangers, has seen considerable acclaim for his work. The romantic drama starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal earned six BAFTA nominations, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, and brought Haigh Best Screenplay honours from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. His earlier credits include Lean on Pete for A24, the Oscar-nominated 45 Years with Charlotte Rampling, and his breakout film Weekend. On television, Haigh created and directed HBO’s Looking and later helmed AMC/BBC’s The North Water. He is currently developing a Universal feature based on Walter Isaacson’s biography of Leonardo da Vinci.
For Hechinger, A Long Winter marks another addition to an already busy slate. His drama Preparation for the Next Life, directed by Oscar nominee Bing Liu (Minding the Gap), opened September 5 to strong reviews. The actor, who first drew notice in Eighth Grade and The White Lotus, recently appeared in Nickel Boys, Gladiator II, and Thelma. Next, he will star alongside Pamela Anderson, Jamie Dornan, and Steve Coogan in Love Is Not the Answer, a comedy marking Michael Cera’s feature directorial debut.
