Netflix and Director Derek Cianfrance to Adapt Gary Paulsen’s Survival Classic ‘Hatchet’

Netflix is developing a feature film adaptation of Gary Paulsen's acclaimed 1987 young adult survival novel, “Hatchet.” Filmmaker Derek Cianfrance has been tapped to write and direct the upcoming project, bringing a new cinematic vision to the widely read literary classic.

Production Details and Creative Team

Derek Cianfrance, widely known for directing dramatic features such as “Blue Valentine” (2010) and “The Place Beyond the Pines” (2012), will helm the adaptation. Andrew Mittman—whose production company 1.21 also produced Netflix’s hit series “Wednesday”—is attached as a producer alongside Kai Dolbashian, who serves as an executive producer.

The adaptation is moving forward in direct partnership with Gary Paulsen’s estate, which spent years keeping the intellectual property off the market. According to available production details, the estate was actively involved in selecting Cianfrance to lead the film. Representatives Jennifer Flannery and Sandy Weinberg join Ruth Wright Paulsen and James Wright Paulsen as executive producers on the project.

Background of the Source Material

Published in 1987, “Hatchet” won the prestigious Newbery Medal and remains a staple of children's and young adult literature. The story follows 13-year-old Brian Robeson, who finds himself stranded alone in the Canadian wilderness following a plane crash, armed with nothing more than a hatchet given to him by his mother. Paulsen later expanded the narrative into a five-book series that included “The River” (1991), “Brian’s Winter” (1996), “Brian’s Return” (1999), and “Brian’s Hunt” (2003).

Historically, the novel has only been adapted for the screen once prior: the 1990 feature film adaptation titled “A Cry in the Wild.” Mittman brought the new iteration to Netflix as part of the streamer's broader push into the survival thriller genre, which recently included titles like “Apex” and “Thrash.”

Practical Implications and Reader Verification

For fans of the book and cinematic adaptations, the announcement signals a high-profile revival of a beloved literary property. However, audiences should note several confirmed elements versus outstanding unknowns:

• Confirmed: Derek Cianfrance is writing and directing; Andrew Mittman is producing via 1.21; Gary Paulsen's estate is collaborating and helped select the director; Netflix is developing the feature.
• Unknown: A casting roster, production timeline, and official release date have not yet been announced.

Readers can review the original reporting and verify further updates directly through [Variety's official coverage](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/hatchet-movie-netflix-derek-cianfrance-gary-paulsen-1236909010/).