Andrew Haigh: New Film Is My ‘Revenant’ - First Look

Andrew Haigh, the filmmaker behind All of Us Strangers and 45 Years, has a new project on the horizon, and he’s already drawing a pretty bold comparison for it: he’s calling it his own version of The Revenant. That’s a heavyweight reference, but before you picture him crawling through snow and wrestling bears, he’s got some explaining to do - and he’s clearly ready to break it down.

The director, who’s also known for his work on the Netflix sci-fi series The OA, hasn’t spilled too many specifics about the film’s plot or even its release date just yet. What we do know is that this is a passion project for him, and the Revenant comparison isn’t about survivalist grit in the frozen wilderness. Instead, it seems Haigh is pointing to something more emotional and psychological - the idea of a character being stripped down to their rawest core, forced to confront the ghosts of their past in a landscape that feels both hostile and beautiful.

For those unfamiliar with Haigh’s style, he’s a master of quiet, aching introspection. His movies don’t rely on big explosions or high-octane chases; they simmer with unspoken tension and deeply human dilemmas. So when he says The Revenant, he’s likely less interested in Leonardo DiCaprio’s physical ordeal and more fascinated by the idea of rebirth through suffering. The new film appears to explore similar territory: a person pushed to their limits, spiritually and mentally, with the weight of their history pressing down on them at every turn.

The first look images from the project suggest a moody, atmospheric visual palette - think muted tones, wide shots of isolating environments, and close-ups that capture every flicker of doubt in the protagonist’s eyes. It’s classic Haigh, leaning into the unspoken and letting the camera do the heavy lifting. There’s a stillness to the frames that feels almost meditative, which makes sense for a filmmaker who’s always been more interested in the interior world than the exterior one.

One thing that sets this project apart from his earlier work is the scale. Haigh has often worked in intimate, almost chamber-piece settings, but the Revenant comparison suggests he’s thinking bigger this time - not necessarily in budget, but in scope. The emotional terrain feels vaster, the stakes higher. It’s the kind of movie that could easily go wrong if it leaned too hard into its own drama, but if anyone can balance that tightrope, it’s Haigh, who has a knack for making the deeply personal feel universal.

Fans of The OA will also be curious to see how his time on that series influenced his approach. Working within the limits of television and the weird, philosophical corners of that story clearly sharpened his ability to juggle ambitious concepts with grounded character work. There’s a sense that he’s taking some of that experimental energy and channeling it into a feature format, which could result in something genuinely unexpected.

Of course, the big question remains: when will we actually get to see it? The project is still shrouded in typical Haigh-style secrecy, with no confirmed release date or even a properly announced title. He’s been tight-lipped about casting too, which only fuels more speculation. But for now, the first look offers enough to get excited about - a director at the top of his game, clearly pushing himself into new creative territory.

There’s also something timely about a filmmaker embracing the Revenant framing in 2026. Audiences have been craving stories that feel elemental, that strip away the noise of modern life and get to something primal. Haigh seems to understand that hunger, and he’s positioning his new film as a response to it - not with action set pieces, but with an emotional intensity that could hit just as hard.

Whether it’s literally about a man battling the elements or someone fighting their own internal demons remains to be seen, but that ambiguity is part of the appeal. Haigh trusts his audience to lean in and find the layers, and he’s given us just enough to spark curiosity without spoiling the journey.

In a movie landscape stuffed with sequels and reboots, a director like Haigh taking a swing at something this personal is a refreshing outlier. His version of The Revenant won’t be about grandeur or spectacle; it’ll be about the slow, painful process of becoming someone new. And honestly, that sounds like exactly the kind of movie we need right now.

Keep your eyes peeled for more updates as this one slowly emerges from the fog. If the first look is any indication, we’re in for something quietly devastating, in the best way possible.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter