Although, thankfully, he’s not so likely to be involved with one big-budget project, this business does not preclude Adam Driver (Inside Llewyn Davis, Girls) from capitalizing on recent successes with large-scale titles. In much more promising news, TheWrap tell us he’s signed for Midnight Special, a picture which bears the dual distinction of being both the next from Jeff Nichols and, too, that writer-director’s first foray into studio filmmaking — and, with his leap, making an homage to the likes of John Carpenter.
As led by Michael Shannon, it follows “a father and his 8-year old [who] go on the run when dad realizes the boy has some kind of special powers”; from here, Joel Edgerton and Kirsten Dunst figure into the action, though, like Driver, details on their characters are being kept under wraps. We’ll know more soon, however, when production kicks off in a few months’ time.
TheWrap also tell us of a starring role for Emily Blunt, who’s looking to headline a psychological thriller, Sister, that’s been spearheaded by StudioCanal and Langley Park. The involved parties will be using Rosamund Lupton‘s novel as a source, in their adaptation following the narrative of a woman, Beatrice, who “investigates the death of her younger sister Tess, whose death is ruled a suicide by police. Convinced that her sister was murdered, Beatrice sets out to uncover the strange events leading up to Tess’ death, though she may pay a terrible price for the truth.” Boy, will you people ever be so surprised when Mark Duplass and Rosemarie DeWitt make their appearances.
No writer or director has yet been attached.
Meanwhile, Variety report that Aaron Paul will join Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried in the pending Fathers and Daughters — but, sadly, not as one of the latter. Instead, the actor will team with his Big Love co-star for a love interest role, having been cast in a project which, set over two timelines, centers on a 30-year-old woman who suffered a traumatic childhood when raised by her mentally ill father.
Gabriele Muccino (Seven Pounds, The Pursuit of Happyness) will direct from a script by Brad Desch; Voltage Productions are backing in conjunction with Busted Shark Productions, Leone Films, and Crowe‘s Fear of God Films.
Finally, Deadline have news that Lake Bell and Simon Pegg are being paired together for Man Up, a romantic comedy supported by StudioCanal and Big Talk Productions. The title, scripted by Tess Morris and to be directed by Ben Palmer (The Inbetweeners Movie), follows “Nancy, who’s mistaken for a stranger’s blind date en route to her parents’ anniversary, leading to her finally finding the perfect boyfriend.”
Production commences in January.
Which of these projects are you most encouraged by? Any thoughts on the specific casting?