In August 2017, it was announced thatAvengers: EndgamedirectorsJoeandAnthony Russohad acquired rights toMohsin Hamid’s bestsellerExit West. Several months later,Barack ObamaincludedExit Weston his list of the best books he read that year. And now, multiple sources say they’re in talks to team up and produce a feature adaptation for Netflix, withRiz Ahmedattached to star, andYann Demangedirecting.
Netflix and a representative for the Russo brothers had no comment, while representatives for Ahmed and Demange did not respond to requests for comment.
Exit Westtackles the global refugee crisis and takes place in an unidentified country in the Middle East, where young Saeed and burqa-wearing Nadia flee their home after Saeed’s mother is killed by a stray bullet stemming from violent clashes between guerrillas and the local government. The couple joins other migrants traveling to safer havens via carefully guarded doors. Through one door, they wind up in a crowded camp on the Greek Island of Mykonos. Through another, they secure a private room in an abandoned London mansion populated mostly by displaced Nigerians. A third door takes them to California’s Marin County. In each location, their relationship is tested by their struggle to find food, adequate shelter and a sense of belonging among emigrant communities. The allegorical tale shows the contrast between the migrants’ tenuous daily reality and that of the privileged native population who’d prefer that they disappear.
After signing a first-look deal with the Russos,Morten Tyldum(The Imitation Game) was initially attached to direct, though Demange has since come aboard. The Russo brothers will produce via their AGBO banner along with Barack andMichelle Obamaand their company Higher Ground Productions. AGBO’sMike Laroccawill also produce with Higher Ground’sTonia DavisandPriya Swaminathan, and a new writer is expected to be hired.
Hamid is the author ofThe Reluctant Fundamentalist, which was turned into a 2012 movie that actually starred Ahmed. The British Pakistani actor broke out two years later inNightcrawler, and has since gone on to star in Hollywood blockbusters such asJason Bourne,Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, andVenom. He has also stayed true to his indie roots, starring inThe Sisters Brothers, the upcoming dramaSound of Metal, and the rap movieMogul Mowgli, which he also co-wrote and produced.
Demange recently directedWhite Boy Rick, on which Ahmed had a Special Thanks credit, so the two certainly seem to know each other. The French-Algerian helmer previously directed theJack O’Connelldrama'71, and he also serves as a director and executive producer on the upcoming HBO seriesLovecraft CountryfromJordan PeeleandJ.J. Abrams.
Higher Ground recently produced the Oscar-winning documentaryAmerican Factoryand the acclaimed documentaryCrip Camp, which opened this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The company is also developing several other projects, including a movie aboutFrederick Douglassand a scripted anthology series based on The New York Times’ ongoing obituary columnOverlooked.
The Russos recently wrapped production on theTom Holland-starring movie they directed calledCherry, and they also produced the upcomingChris Hemsworthaction movieExtraction, which hits Netflix next month. AGBO is currently in production on theJamie Lee Curtissci-fi movieEverything Everywhere All at Oncefrom the directors ofSwiss Army Man. The Russos are represented by WME, which also reps Ahmed along with Gordon and French. Demange is repped by CAA and Independent Talent Group. For more onCherry,click here.
