Neil LaBute has been announced as the writer/director of an adaptation of author Chris Willeford’s Burnt Orange Heresy, a crime novel combining the world of art with the world of, well, crime. Think The Thomas Crown Affair, but on Palm Beach and you’re probably not that close.
We’re reliably informed that the plot will centre on a shady art critic (the brilliantly named Jacques Figueras) desperate to get an interview with a reclusive but distinguished painter. Believe us when we say that hunting down publicity-shy interviewees isn’t actually that exciting – but with the novel promising Mr Figeuras carrying out ‘blackmail, burglary, fencing and assassination‘ to get what he wants, may be there is film potential in the seedy underbelly of Floridian art criticism after all.
Both big Willeford fans, William Horberg (Kite Runner) will be producing alongside LaBute, working together again after their Chris Rock-written remake of the 2007 Britcom Death At A Funeral, though hopefully slapstick bodyswapping and comedy dwarves won’t be included.