Blood Meridian- Would Hollywood ever make it?

For those who are unfamiliar, this is considered the magnum opus of Cormac McCarthy, author of The Road and No Country for Old Men. It's a western that's so violent and dark it makes the Wild Bunch look like the Care Bears.


Here's a Summary

Blood Meridian story of a teenage runaway known only as "the Kid" who joins a group of scalp hunters in the American Southwest in the mid-19th century. Led by the enigmatic and violent Judge Holden, the group embarks on a brutal and bloody campaign against Native Americans and other perceived enemies of civilization.

The novel is known for its vivid and often disturbing descriptions of violence, as well as its exploration of themes such as the nature of evil, the relationship between violence and civilization, and the human desire for power and dominance. Along the way, the Kid encounters a cast of colorful characters, including a one-armed ex-priest, a delusional fortune teller, and a group of Mexican bandits.

As the Kid becomes increasingly disillusioned with the violence and chaos around him, he begins to question his own role in the group and his own morality. Meanwhile, the Judge emerges as a figure of almost mythic proportions, seeming to embody the very essence of evil itself.

The novel ends with a violent confrontation between the Kid and the Judge, leaving the reader to ponder the ultimate meaning of the story and the nature of humanity's relationship with violence and savagery.


I'd recommend the Audiobook if you're unaccustomed to McCarthy's writing. He never uses quotation marks and has an aversion to almost all punctuation.


Several talented screenwriters, actors and directors have tried to get it greenlit for the last 30+ years, but have failed to make it to production.

I wouldn't want a watered-down adaptation, but I can see where some imagery in the book would be too much for most audiences. Some compromises would have to be made to keep an R rating. But...

Could it be done?
Who would direct?
Who would play The Kid?
And most importantly, is there any actor alive who could play Judge Holden and do the character justice?