Renowned actor and director Ed Harris is facing mounting frustrations as he navigates a prolonged 15-year struggle to bring his film, The Ploughmen, to life amid continued delays. Speaking with Collider’s Taylor Gates while promoting his latest project, My Dead Friend Zoe, Harris expressed uncertainty about the film’s future. “I’ve been trying to get that movie made for going on 15 years now, and I don’t know if it’s gonna happen or not,” he revealed, showcasing the exhausting journey he has endured.
The Ploughmen, which is based on Kim Zupan’s 2014 neo-noir thriller novel of the same name, has remained in development limbo. The story unfolds in rural Montana, centering on two men: John Gload, a notorious killer finally imprisoned after a lifetime of violence, and Val Millimaki, a low-ranking officer at the local sheriff’s station. As the two engage in conversation, they discover shared experiences and challenges. This deep narrative has drawn Harris to the project; however, the challenges he faces are daunting.
Harris lamented the difficulties in casting and financing the indie film, stating, “I keep going through different casts because people I want to work with get too old to do it anymore.” He emphasized the delicate balance of securing a reasonable budget without sacrificing the film’s quality, underlining, “It’s an indie film that probably costs more than it should, and I’ve been trying to slash the budget down, but I don’t want to make it on a shoestring because it deserves certain production values.”
Originally acquiring the rights to the novel in 2017, Harris had hopes to cast Stacy Keach in a leading role. As plans shifted and transformed, 2021 saw the official announcement with stars Robert Duvall and Garrett Hedlund attached to play Gload and Millimaki, respectively. Unfortunately, these plans fell through, leading to a more recent announcement of a new cast that includes Nick Nolte and Bill Murray, as well as Harris’ wife Amy Madigan and their daughter Lily Harris.
As The Ploughmen continues to remain in development, Harris’s passion for directing fluctuates between excitement and frustration. Despite the setbacks in his journey, he remains hopeful, stating, “I hope, before I leave the planet, I get a chance to direct something again.” The backdrop of this tumultuous process shines a light on the struggles many filmmakers face in overcoming obstacles to creativity.
While The Ploughmen hangs in uncertainty, Ed Harris is gearing up for the release of My Dead Friend Zoe on February 28, 2024. This film centers on a veteran, Merit, played by Sonequa Martin-Green, who confronts her estranged father, Dale, portrayed by Harris, all while grappling with the ghosts of her fallen comrade. As fans eagerly await both projects, the struggles behind The Ploughmen serve as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced in the world of independent filmmaking. Stay tuned for future developments regarding Ed Harris and his enduring endeavor with The Ploughmen.
