'Downton Abbey' Director Andy Goddard to Take on 'The Blunderer'

Andy Goddard, who directed the season finale of Downton Abbey, is now attached to direct the psychological thriller The Blunderer, a film based on the 1954 novel by The Talented Mr. Ripley’s Patricia Highsmith. Susan Boyd, who has written the adaptation, optioned the novel with her husband, novelist and screenwriter William Boyd, who is serving as executive producer.

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Ted Hope and Killer Films’ Christine Vachon will produce the film along with Sierra Pictures, which is providing the financing.

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The novel, which Highsmith wrote in between Strangers on a Train and Ripley, follows the young, successful and handsome Walter Stackhouse, who seems to have it all until his wife’s body is found at the bottom of a cliff. Under suspicion, he must flee from the murderer and the cops.

“The Blunderer is one of those extremely special projects, complete with complicated Highsmithian characters and edge-of-your-seat tension. We are thrilled to have Andy at the helm of this one. He's a unique and skilled director with a great vision for the film,” Sierra/Affinity CEO Nick Meyer said.  

Hope called the project “a modern day Hitchcock doled out with a healthy dose of today’s sexuality and violence, but told with the wit, cunning and drama that makes Andy the perfect choice for his feature film debut.”

In addition to directing multiple episodes of Downton, Goddard has helmed such series as Dr. Who, Law & Order: U.K. and Torchwood. His short film Little Sisters was nominated for a BAFTA and won the Golden Hugo Award. He is repped by Resolution, United Agents and attorney Michael Schenkman.

Susan Boyd is represented by Stephen Durbridge at The Agency.

Kelly McCormick, Sierra/Affinity’s senior vp development and production, will oversee production for the company.