Streaming service Tubi is moving forward with a western thriller adaptation titled The Thicket, based on Joe R. Lansdale’s acclaimed novel. The project is directed and produced by Peter Dinklage, renowned for his role in Game of Thrones, with additional production involvement shaping the film’s vision.
Principal photography unfolds in Calgary, Canada, bringing together a strong ensemble. Juliette Lewis joins Dinklage as a lead, with Esme Creed-Miles, Levon Hawke, Leslie Grace, and Gbenga Akinnagbe rounding out key roles. The cast also includes James Hetfield, best known as the frontman of Metallica, who brings previous screen experience to waterlogged moral terrains. The filmmaker behind the camera is Elliott Lester, whose earlier works include action-packed and tense dramas.
The narrative of The Thicket centers on a young man named Jack, who sets out to rescue his sister Lula after she is kidnapped by a ruthless gang. He finds himself aligned with a grizzled bounty hunter, an alcoholic grave digger, and a sex worker, as they navigate a maze of criminals concealed within a vast and perilous woodland known as the Great Bush. The setting and seasonal backdrop evoke a boundary moment between past and present as the team faces escalating danger while seeking justice.
Development of a film adaptation featuring Dinklage has spanned many years, with early plans already in motion before the disruption of global events pushed production timelines. The project reflects a long-standing commitment to bringing Lansdale’s tense and atmospheric western to the screen, with plans adapting to contemporary audiences while preserving the novel’s stark fidelity to a dangerous, lawless frontier.
In related industry notes, another major project has been reported in development circles, featuring a different high-profile actor in a separate thriller series created for a major streaming platform. This reflects a broader trend of streaming services investing in tense, character-driven suspense that blends frontier grit with modern storytelling conventions.