“Top of the Lake” collaborators Elisabeth Moss and Jane Campion are teaming up on another project. The former will star in the latter’s next film, “The Power of the Dog.”
Based on Thomas Savage’s novel of the same name, the story centers on “wealthy Montana brothers Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Burbank. Phil is brilliant and cruel, while George is fastidious and gentle,” the source summarizes. “Together, they are joint owners of the biggest ranch in their Montana valley. When George secretly marries local widow Rose (Moss), an angry Phil wages a relentless war to destroy her by using her son Peter as a pawn.”
Campion is directing and penned the script. Slated to begin pre-production at the end of the year, “The Power of the Dog” is a See-Saw Films and Big Shell Films/Max Films production in association with Brightstar. BBC Films is also onboard the production.
Moss has two pics in theaters now: Jordan Peele horror hit “Us” and punk saga “Her Smell.” The “Mad Men” alumna’s upcoming slate sees her reprising her Emmy-winning role as Offred in Hulu’s third season of feminist dystopia “The Handmaid’s Tale” and Andrea Berloff mob drama “The Kitchen.” The former premieres June 5 and the latter hits theaters August 8.
Campion won an Oscar for her screenplay for “The Piano,” and received a nod for directing the film. She became the first — and remains the only — female director to take home Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or for the Holly Hunter-starrer. “Bright Star,” “Holy Smoke,” and “Sweetie” are among her other features.
Moss starred as Detective Robin Griffin in both seasons of “Top of the Lake,” Campion’s New Zealand-set crime mystery.
