Dev Patel has set his next directorial project with The Peasant. Patel is primarily known as an actor, breaking out in the lead role in Slumdog Millionaire. Though this film did not earn Patel an Oscar nomination, it was incredibly well-received by the Academy, winning Best Picture. Patel was later nominated for Best Supporting actor for playing the adult version of Saroo Brierley in the biographical drama Lion. His other key roles include parts in The Green Knight and Chappie.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Patel will star in and direct The 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 Peasant will 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

Thunder Road Produced John Wick

Though acting has made up the majority of his career, Patel made an important career step last year by making his directorial feature debut. He helmed Monkey Man, which, as in the case of The Peasant, he also starred in and co-wrote. As such, working on The Peasant will 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 produced Monkey Man. The studio is also behind the John Wick movies. The Peasant has already been likened to John Wick, as well as Braveheart, making that group seem particularly well-suited towards working on the film. Monkey Man also had threads of John Wick, being a one-person action army film, so The Peasant will 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 Peasant is an interesting entry into his career. On the acting side of things, Patel has made his foray into the medieval period with The 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 to John Wick, The Peasant will bring the revenge thriller genre into a historical period in India, potentially creating interesting commentary along the way.

Source: THR