Gus Van Sant and the writer for “Milk,” Dustin Lance Black, might not even have their first collaboration in theaters yet (Nov. 26 in limited release), but apparently the team-up went well as the duo are already looking towards their next project: an adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s famous psychedelic counter-culture novel, “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.”
In June, Variety reported that Van Sant was on board to direct, and today the Hollywood Reporter announced that Fox Searchlight has officially picked up the project. Based on the story of a cross-country road trip that “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” author Ken Kesey orchestrated with his group, the Merry Pranksters, Van Sant has been a longtime fan of the ‘Kool Aid Acid Test’ folks: he cast Kesey in 1993’s “Even Cowgirls Get The Blues,” and dedicated 2002’s “Gerry” to Kesey, who died the year before.
They’re a good combo, Black might have a good shot on nabbing a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination come February, based on what we’ve seen and read – the script is solid.