The Pale Blue Eye, which stars Christian Bale, is a new gothic crime thriller movie coming to Netflix next year.
The movie is being adapted from the 2006 novel by the same name, written by Louis Bayard, and is expected to mirror the plot of the source novel, starting by transporting its audience to the dreary West Point Academy back in 1830.
A tragedy has befallen the Academy as one of their young cadets was discovered swinging from a noose in what appeared to be a suicide. Respectfully taking down the body so that it could be prepared for burial, the Academy placed the boy in a locked room. The next morning, a horrific crime is discovered, as someone had broken into the room where the body was being kept and removed his heart.
Without any clue of what to make of the situation and not wanting to attract any more negative publicity than necessary, The Academy calls to Augustus ‘Gus’ Landor (played by Academy Award winner Christian Bale) for help, a retired police detective originally from New York City who has become a local civilian. Now a restless widower, Landor agrees to shirk off retirement to take on the case and help solve the mystery but is surprised when the Academy pairs him with a partner.
His new partner is a cadet from the Academy, and none other than the now legendary writer and poet, Edgar Allan Poe (played by Harry Melling of Harry Potter, and The Queen’s Gambit).
First Look
In the image courtesy of Netflix, we get to see the Dark Knight actor sporting a long and scruffy beard and a short top hat, carrying a lantern, and making his way through a beautiful and classically gothic eerie forest.
With this being our first sneak peek into the upcoming gothic crime thriller, it has fans excited for The Pale Blue Eye. The film is set to have a short theatrical release on December 23rd, 2022, whereafter it will be streaming on Netflix from January 6th, 2023.
Cast and Credits
Unfortunately, Christian Bale and Harry Melling are the only cast members who currently gave roles assigned, but The Pale Blue Eye is set to have an amazing cast with talent from movies and series alike.
The upcoming thriller will star Brennan Cook from Encounter, Charlie Tahan from Ozark, Charlotte Gainsbourg from Antichrist, Fred Hechinger from The White Lotus, Gideon Glick from Marvellous Mrs Maisel, Gillian Anderson from The Crown, Hadley Robinson from Moxie, Harry Lawtey from Industry, Joey Brooks from Molly’s Game, Lucy Boynton from Bohemian Rhapsody, Matt Helm from Tragedy of Macbeth, Robert Duvall from The Judge, Sion McBurney from Carnival Row, Steven Maier from The Plot Against America, Timothy Spall from Mr Turner, and Toby Jones from First Cow.
The Pale Blue Eye is being written and directed by Scott Cooper, famous for his work on Crazy Heart starring Jeff Bridges, Black Mass starring Johnny Depp, and most recent mystery-horror adventure Antlers starring Keri Russell. This also won’t be the first time that Cooper and Bale will be working together, being reunited after Out of the Furnace and Hostiles, even extending the role of producer to Bale on this movie alongside his starring role.
It’s been a while since we saw a beautiful gothic horror based on classics like the concept of gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe. Literature fans cannot wait to see what Scott Cooper is going to do with The Pale Blue Eye and are hoping not to receive yet another disappointing movie adaptation of a novel.