THR is reporting that Kate Winslet will star in an HBO miniseries of James M Cain’s MILDRED PIERCE.
Mildred Pierce had gorgeous legs, a way with a skillet, and a bone-deep core of toughness. She used those attributes to survive a divorce and poverty and to claw her way out of the lower middle class. But Mildred also had two weaknesses: a yen for shiftless men, and an unreasoning devotion to a monstrous daughter.
The bar is set kind of high here, as Joan Crawford did a hell of a job, and won an Oscar, in the 1945 film.
But Kate is a damn fine actress and I think she may have the style and chops to not be overshadowed by Crawford’s legendary performance. Miz Kate won an Oscar for THE READER as well as having snagged BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actor’s Guild awards.
Todd Haynes co-wrote the screenplay and will be directing. He wrote and directed 2002’s acclaimed FAR FROM HEAVEN (which got him an Oscar nomination).
