14 DAY TRIAL // One of the strongest possible Oscar contenders is “Drive,” a film by Nicolas Winding Refn starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan. James Sallis, who wrote the original novel, has just announced he's coming out with a sequel to it.
In all “Drive” conversations, one name that is usually left out is that of Sallis', who wrote the novel on which the film is based.
Given how warmly the film was received, it's no wonder Sallis is looking to capitalize on it by coming out with a second novel with the same nameless, dangerous and charming (anti)hero, Driver.
It will be called “Driven” and will be out in April 2012, Poisoned Pen Press confirms for LitReactor. “Drive” was also released with the same publishing house.
“Driven” will pick up the story after the events in “Drive,” but with a significant time lapse.
“Six years later – Phoenix. Out of nowhere someone wants Driver dead. Who? Why? Big mistake...” reads a synopsis of the plot.
A statement from Poisoned Pen Press says that Sallis was under no contractual obligation to come out with a new novel on the same character, but he probably did so thinking only of his huge fan following.
While “Drive” the film may still be thought of as a niche release, “Drive” the book is hailed by many critics and most users as the best crime noir written in the last 50 years.
In other words, “Driven” has a huge reputation to live up to.
“After the extraordinary success of Drive and with no contractual obligation to Poisoned Pen Press, Jim [and his agent] easily could have sold Driven to virtually any mainstream publishing house for significant money, but they didn’t,” Poisoned Pen Press says.
“I should not have been surprised. Among the many themes running through these books – and upon reflection, through all the books of James Sallis – is integrity. I know of no other writer so devoted to his craft and to what he believes,” the statement further says.
A draft for the cover of “Driven” has also been released – you can see it attached to this article. Now, movie buffs only have to hope that Refn and Gosling would team up again for a sequel.