Frances McDormand is following up her Oscar-winning performance in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” — and her impassioned acceptance speech calling for more inclusivity in the industry — with Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland.” Fox Searchlight has acquired worldwide rights to the road movie, a press release announced.
Written and directed by Zhao, “Nomadland” centers on Fern (McDormand), a 60-something woman who loses everything in the Great Recession. She “embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.”
“As I fell in love with the American west, it was impossible not to become fascinated with the roads that lead to the many adventures beyond the horizon,” Zhao commented. “I’m very fortunate to be able to hit the road with a talented team and collaborate with a cast of professional and non-professional actors who are deeply giving and inspiring. I can’t wait to share their stories and what we’ve discovered along the way.”
McDormand and Zhao are among “Nomadland’s” producers.
Zhao helmed one of the best-reviewed films of 2018, “The Rider.” Named best picture by the National Society of Film Critics, the drama tells the story of a cowboy coping with the aftermath of a near-fatal rodeo accident. She made her feature debut with 2015’s “Songs My Brothers Taught Me.”
Following “Nomadland” Zhao will direct “The Eternals,” a Marvel pic about super-powered individuals fighting to control the universe.
When we asked Zhao her advice for other women directors she said, “Follow your gut instinct. It may not always be right, but it’s what makes your work unique.”
