Andrew Haigh Dives Into ‘The North Water’
British filmmaker Andrew Haigh, who won acclaim for “Weekend” and “45 Years” (pictured), is set to venture back into television, writing and directing “The North Water” for See-Saw Films and the BBC.
See-Saw’s Hakan Kousetta and Jamie Laurenson announced Haigh’s involvement with the project on Monday. Based on Ian McGuire’s novel of the same name, published in February this year, “The North Water” will be a limited series of six hour-long episodes that tell the tale of a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up to be the ship’s doctor on an Arctic whaling expedition. Once on board he encounters a murderous psychopath serving as harpooner, and the surgeon’s search for redemption becomes a struggle for survival.
Haigh will adapt the novel and direct all six episodes. See-Saw will produce.
“Ian McGuire’s novel is brilliantly both a page-turning thriller and an incredible exploration of the human condition,” said Kousetta and Laurenson. “From our very first conversations with Andrew it was clear that he is passionate about both aspects of the story, and we’re thrilled that he’s come on board to bring his vision of the novel to a television audience.”
Haigh has won awards for the 2011 film “Weekend” and last year’s “45 Years,” which nabbed the best actor and actress prizes at the Berlinale for Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling, respectively. Rampling went on to earn an Oscar nomination. Haigh also served as executive producer on HBO’s “Looking” for two seasons in 2014 and 2015, directing 10 of the show’s 18 episodes.
He is currently in post-production on his fourth feature, “Lean On Pete,” about a young boy who sets out on a perilous journey to find his long-lost aunt and a possible home with only a stolen racehorse for company. He is also set to direct a biopic of fashion designer Alexander McQueen for Pathe and producer Damian Jones.
Haigh is managed by Jeff Okin and Adam Shulman at Anonymous Content and represented by Dan Rabinow, Nancy Jones and Adam Berkowitz of CAA and Ian Benson of The Agency (London) Ltd.
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