Oscar winner Julianne Moore (Still Alice) appears set to reunite with writer/director Todd Haynes (Carol) for the film Wonderstruck. The film is an adaptation of the children’s novel by Brian Selznick (whose novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret was adapted into Martin Scorsese’s 2011 Oscar-winning film Hugo). Haynes will pen the screenplay. This would mark the fourth time Moore and Haynes have collaborated.
Wonderstruck tells the dual narrative of two deaf children growing up in different time periods. Ben, a small boy growing up in Minnesota in the late 1970s, travels to New York City following the death of his mother after a mysterious note appears. Rose is a young girl locked away in the late 1920s who runs away to New York to meet her idol- the actress Lillian Mayhew. The novel was published in the fall of 2011 was received acclaim from critics as well as the John Spuckner Award.
There’s no confirmation as to what part Moore may be playing the film. However, a reunion between Moore and Haynes may be enough to incite passion from cinephiles. The actress and writer/director have worked together many times over the course of their respective careers and both broke out with the artistic success of the 1995 art film Safe (a movie that earned Independent Spirit Award nominations for both Haynes and Moore). The went on to work with one another again in the 2002’s melodrama Far From Heaven, a widely acclaimed film that earned Moore an Oscar nominated for Best Actress and Haynes one as well for Best Original Screenplay. Moore also appeared in a small role in Haynes’ unconventional Bob Dylan bio I’m Not There (2007).
Moore, since winning an Oscar for Still Alice this past February, was last seen on screens in the drama Freeheld and co-stars in Maggie’s Plan, comedy starring Greta Gerwig (Mistress America) and Ethan Hawke (Boyhood) that is due in theaters next year. While not definite, Haynes is also attached to direct Peggy Lee bio, yet it’s unclear when or if that is still happening. Perhaps ironically, both Moore and Haynes will be debuting new film this very week. Moore returns as Alma Coin in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, the final chapter in the Jennifer Lawrence-headlined franchise while Haynes’ acclaimed period drama Carol (our review) opens in limited release.
There’s no word yet as to when Wonderstruck may start production however seeing that Haynes’ Carol is currently poised to be a major part of the awards season– the drama stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara– odds are the film will wait until sometime early next year. We will stay tuned to further developments on the project.
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