“Mudbound” helmer Dee Rees is collaborating with Santigold on her next project. Rees has signed on to direct musical fantasy “The Kyd’s Exquisite Follies,” based on her own original script, with Santigold locked in to compose the music. Deadline confirmed the news.
Described as “a swirling, futuristic roller-coaster journey of a young musician who catapults herself from the anonymity of her hometown of Same Ol’, Same Ol’ to the bright lights and plastic sights of the fabled It City in search of stardom,” the project was inspired by Rees’ appreciation of “the AfroPunk and SteamFunk scenes,” she told Deadline.
The writer-director wants to “re-imagine the whole Follies genre for today, lift it out of the problematic tropes of the past, and invest it with a queer, edgy energy,” she explained. “My favorite musical as a kid growing up was ‘The Wiz,’ but ironically I generally hated musicals. Which is why I wanted to take this on and write something original — to try and do something unexpected with the form — make a musical for people who hate musicals. It’s gonna be fun. It’s been an absolute dream being in the studio with Santigold,” Rees emphasized. “She’s an artist I’ve admired and wanted to work with for a long time — she’s such a creative producer and has a vast range of styles and references. She’s a genius and the music we’re making is exciting as hell. People are gonna be surprised. I can’t wait.”
Santigold’s albums include “Master of My Make-Believe” and “99¢.”
A Mississippi-set period drama about two WWII vets who return home to their respective families, Rees’ “Mudbound” received four Oscar nods, including one for her script. “Bessie,” her 2015 HBO biopic about Bessie Smith starring Queen Latifah, scored four Emmy nominations, including writing and directing for Rees. She made her feature debut with 2011’s “Pariah,” a Gotham Award-winning coming-of-age drama.
Rees’ most recently wrapped project is Netflix feature “The Last Thing He Wanted.” The Joan Didion adaptation about a Washington Post journalist who becomes involved in the world of arms dealing stars Anne Hathaway and Ben Affleck. Carey Mulligan is set to portray Gloria Steinem in Rees’ next pic, “An Uncivil War.”
