Dev Patel has set his next directorial project withThe Peasant. Patel is primarily known as an actor, breaking out in the lead role inSlumdog Millionaire. Though this film did not earn Patel an Oscar nomination, it was incredibly well-received by the Academy, winningBest Picture.Patel was later nominated for Best Supporting actorfor playing the adult version of Saroo Brierley in the biographical dramaLion. His other key roles include parts inThe Green KnightandChappie.
PerThe Hollywood Reporter,Patel will star in and directThe Peasant.In addition to these two roles, he will also write the film’s screenplay. The movie will be produced by Fifth Season and Thunder Road Pictures. Described as a revenge thriller,The Peasantwill be set in the medieval 1300s, and focus on a shepherd who faces up against mercenary knights who have ransacked his community. The story will be set in feudal India.
What This Means For Patel
Though acting has made up the majority of his career, Patel made an important career step last year by making his directorial feature debut. HehelmedMonkey Man, which, as in the case ofThe Peasant, he also starred in and co-wrote. As such, working onThe Peasantwill be Patel’s second feature, and a great way for him to further prove himself in his behind-the-scenes work.
The film will also see him reteam with Thunder Road Pictures, who producedMonkey Man. The studio is also behind theJohn Wickmovies.The Peasanthas already been likened toJohn Wick, as well asBraveheart, making that group seem particularly well-suited towards working on the film.Monkey Manalso had threads ofJohn Wick, being a one-person action army film, soThe Peasantwill further establish this subgenre as key to Patel’s work, and continue his working relationship with Thunder Road.
Our Take On The Peasant
This Combines Multiple Themes In Patel’s Work
Looking at Patel’s oeuvre as a whole,The Peasantis an interesting entry into his career. On the acting side of things, Patel has made his foray into the medieval period withThe Green Knight. He has also been in India-focused stories, so this setting will be kind of a combination of those two elements. With its unique influences and tie-in toJohn Wick,The Peasantwill bring the revenge thriller genre into a historical period in India, potentially creating interesting commentary along the way.
