Ranking pretty high on last year’s Black List was Eddie O’Keefe and Chris Hutton‘s When the Street Lights Go On — it came in second behind Graham Moore‘s Imitation Game, which is also making its way to the big screen. Now, according to Deadline, the team have landed Brett Morgen to direct their drama, through Anonymous Content.
Known predominantly for his documentary work (including the Robert Evans piece The Kid Stays in the Picture and Chicago 10), Morgen will make his feature debut with a story that “revolves around a teen boy who becomes obsessed with solving a murder case involving a young girl that has their sleepy suburban town in a panic in the summer of 1982.” If you’re getting flashbacks to Stand By Me, don’t worry — the project will be in a similar “vein” as the classic coming-of-age tale. Steve Golin, Chad Hamilton and Michael Sugar will produce for Anonymous Content, with Paul Green executive producing alongside Tariq Merhab and the scribes.
Apparently Drew Barrymore was eyeing to direct the project a little while back, but has since backed down for some reason. With Morgen busy on his Rolling Stones documentary, which will commemorate the band’s 50th anniversary, shooting for When the Street Lights Go On won’t begin until sometime next year.
Do you think Morgen is a good fit for When the Street Lights Go On?