Todd Fields is set to direct Cormac McCarthy's latest novel adaptation of Blood Meridian. So far IMDB doesn't have any cast listed yet but I doubt Fields will have a difficult time. He has been pretty sucessful during his last two films getting his actors nominated (Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, Marisa Tomei for In The Bedroom, and Kate Winslet and Jackie Earle Haley for Little Children.) I have no idea who they will cast as the lead role of "the kid" but I would personally love to see Paul Dano. Anyways, its one of the films I am looking forward to most this year. Hopefully it will be out in time for the 2010 Oscars.

One, Dano sucks. It should have been Ben Foster or Ryan Gosling in the Eli role. I thought he was the worst part of the movie. Anyway, " the kid " has to be a teenager. At least no younger than 18 in real life.

I personally do not know how they are going to pull off this adaptation that Ridley Scott happened to be attached to direct at one time. Reason I say this is that it's a totally brutal book. Some very disturbing content. I mean disturbing ! I don't see how they can film some scenes. They might have to delete a few. One involves babies.
Also, the casting of The Judge is crucial. They have to pick the correct actor. The Judge is big and albino, all knowing and Evil personified. I hope they pick the right actor. The book is a disturbing read and you wonder, especially in our economy, how well such a dark and no happy ending movie will be looked upon. There isn't one ounce of goodness in that book. Dark is a understatement.

i second that- Dano sucks. he was completely miscast in TWBB.

I am shocked that you guys didn't like Dano in TWBB. Most people on here seemed to be in support of his performance. I liked it a lot. But I agree Dan that Ben Foster or Ryan Gosling would also be superb choices. As far as the darkness of the film thats what I am looking very forward too on how they pull it off. I read the novel a few years ago and with as much as I read I am having trouble remembering certain plot lines of the novel. The role of the judge will be key and I have no idea who they will cast in that role. I think Jack Nicholson could pull a role like that off, but if memory serves the judge is middle aged, not in his seventies so Nicholson would be miscast in that. Anyway I have no doubts that Fields can pull it off, I am huge fan of his work and I feel he is up there with Aronofsky, and PT Anderson as one of our greatest working directors currently.

I thought Dano did a very good job in TWBB but what did annoy me is that he did not age 1 bit between the film's main events and the final scene...

I liked Paul Dano in There Will Be Blood. He was hilarious and a good caricature for the religious sort of person he was playing. The purpose was not to like that character he was a fake.

I really enjoyed Paul Dano's character, but I would have preferred if he had aged towards the end. At the very least, I'd say ten or twenty years had passed since the events prior, and while H.W. Plainview aged fine I couldn't help but notice that Dano's character hadn't aged a day.

I also noticed he did not age, i thought that was funny about him too. His whole character was a joke, and to see him again exactly how he was before helped add to that.

I just don't think Dano is a very good actor... that is as of now. He's young so he could improve obviously. Look at how one dimensional Brad Pitt and George Clooney were when they started. I just thought it would have served the movie better to have someone that could play Eli physically tougher and convincing in that matter, and really give Plainview a run for his money. There is a rumor out there that Gosling was the initial thought but he was not available.

As for Todd Field, I really don't know what to think of him as the choice for director. This is a sprawling tale, and for the most part he has done family style drama up till now. My first pick would have been John Hillcoat ( The Proposition, The Road ) I think he'd be perfect. Couldn't even begin to think of who I'd cast as The Judge. It has to be a larger than life actor. Someone that can own the camera and has a lot of physical charisma.