Daniel Brown Set to Direct Chuck Palahniuk’s Cult Classic Novel ‘Survivor’ Adaptation
Filmmaker Daniel Brown to Direct Adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s Survivor
Daniel Brown, known for Your Lucky Day, is set to write and direct a feature adaptation of the satirical novel Survivor, penned by Chuck Palahniuk, the author behind Fight Club. The project is scheduled to begin filming in early 2026 in Auckland, New Zealand.
The film centers on the final hours of Tender Branson, the last surviving member of a puritan cult. As he navigates a commercial airliner with no one left to fly it, Branson reflects on his journey from obscurity to superstardom.
Production will be led by Ryan Rettig, recognized for Voyage of Time and Last Days in the Desert, alongside Miles David Romney, known for The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd and the Oscar-nominated Ninety-Five Senses. The project is being produced under Community Garden and financed by V42, with the support of Mel Turner and Axel Paton from Auckland-based Ground Control, who have credits that include Wolf Man and Heart Eyes.
UTA Independent Film Group will handle worldwide sales in collaboration with V42/D Squared Films.
Survivor represents a long-anticipated adaptation, following several unsuccessful attempts to bring the novel to the screen. Originally, 20th Century Fox acquired the rights shortly after the book’s release, recruiting Jake Paltrow to write the screenplay. However, the project was shelved in the wake of 9/11, primarily due to the story’s theme involving an airplane hijacker. Filmmaker Francis Lawrence, known for The Long Walk and The Hunger Games franchise, had also previously considered a feature adaptation.
Brown’s directorial debut, Your Lucky Day, an action thriller featuring the late Angus Cloud, premiered in theaters in November 2023. He is represented by Navigation Media Group, UTA, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
Palahniuk has previously seen adaptations of his works with Fight Club and Choke. His extensive bibliography includes numerous novels, nonfiction works, graphic novels, short stories, and even adult coloring books. His most recent novel, Shock Induction, was published in 2024, and he is represented by Donadio & Olsen.
