According to Deadline, Pain and Glory director Pedro Almodóvar has confirmed that he will no longer be directing the upcoming film adaptation of A Manual for Cleaning Women, based on Lucia Berlin’s 2016 short story collection. The acclaimed Spanish filmmaker made the difficult decision to give up his directorial duties as he felt that he wasn’t ready for this kind of ambitious project, which would have been his first English-language film.
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“It has been a very painful decision for me,” Almodóvar said in a statement. “I have dreamt of working with Cate for such a long time. Dirty Films has been so generous with me this whole time and I was blinded by excitement, but unfortunately, I no longer feel able to fully realize this film.”
Dirty Films and New Republic are currently searching for a new director to take Almodóvar’s place as they continue to commit to making the project. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett is currently still attached for the leading role.
“We have the utmost respect for Pedro and his extraordinary body of work, and while the stars may not have aligned this time, we hope to collaborate with Pedro and El Deseo on another project in the future,” Producers Blanchett, Andrew Upton, and Coco Francini said in a joint statement. “Dirty Films’ passion for A Manual for Cleaning Women and Lucia Berlin’s unique and searing voice — full of danger, joyousness, and loss — has not dimmed, and we are excited to continue this project with our partners at New Republic.”
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A Manual for Cleaning Women features 43 stories centered around working women in different types of demanding jobs. In addition to starring, Blanchett will also be producing through her Dirty Films banner along with Andrew Upton and Coco Francini. New Republic Pictures’ Brian Oliver and Bradley Fischer are also set as producers.
