Mike Flanagan has been pretty active in the mainstream horror landscape since penning Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House. And in addition to crafting several horror projects since, he was also responsible for the script for DCU’s Clayface, which is slated to enter production later this year.
But after spearheading several major hits in the mainstream limelight, Flanagan recently reverted to his Indie roots with The Life of Chuck. Although they had limited resources up their sleeves, they did manage to involve Nick Offerman in the mix.
Financial hurdles didn’t put Nick Offerman off from The Life of Chuck
Given his stature in showbiz, Nick Offerman is reasonably accustomed to nabbing big paydays for his gigs, whether it’s a prestige show or a major movie production. And considering Mike Flanagan and co. were operating on a pretty limited budget for his Indie return with The Life of Chuck, based on Stephen King’s short story, on paper, casting an actor of Offerman’s stature didn’t seem to be viable.
Fortunately, Offerman, who is notable for prioritizing his artistic integrity over hefty paychecks, was immediately on board with the prospect of narrating Flanagan’s movie. This partly stemmed from Offerman’s familiarity with the movie’s director of photography, Eben Bolter, who previously worked with the former in TLOU, and was also the one to pitch Flanagan’s story to him.
Flanagan recalled (via Screen Daily):
We needed a narrator who could speak to the tone of the story and carry us through. We also knew we didn’t have any money for that person… But he [Offerman] not only came in and agreed to do it for the nothing that we had, but said that he believed the actors might appreciate hearing his cadence, which is unique to him, on scenes that they would be dealing with the voiceover.
Offerman further recorded a scratch track of his entire narration to aid the actors on set, which further highlights Offerman’s commitment to artistic integrity over economics.
Mike Flanagan elaborates on his Indie return
Indie movies have had a notable resurgence in recent years, partly due to the current state of big-budget releases, and studios like A24 and Neon have brought more personal and passion-driven stories closer to the mainstream limelight.
Having been well-versed in the Indie landscape prior to hitting it big with The Haunting of Hill House, Mike Flanagan has cherished his return to his roots, despite the seismic shift in technology. However, per the writer, one thing has remained constant throughout the years in the Indie landscape.
He further added:
That feeling of being in a trench without any resources and with a bunch of people who just want to tell a good story, that hasn’t changed.
With already a People’s Choice award under its belt, the movie has proven to be a critical hit, which seems to be par for the course for one of the most revered horror writers in the current climate.
The Life of Chuck is currently playing in selected theatres (USA).
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