After having just begun talks to star in the biopic Colette, Keira Knightley is now confirmed to star opposite Will Smith in Collateral Beauty. The film has director David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley & Me) attached to it with the script written by Allan Loeb (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps). The drama already has a stacked cast that includes Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, Michael Pena, and possibly Rachel McAdams.
The story follows Smith as a New York advertising man who has a terrible tragedy hit him and attempts to retreat from all life’s responsibilities. No characters have yet been established for Knightley or her co-stars. The film has a release date slated for December 16, 2016, making it ideal for possible Oscar talks. And while that is a point in its favor, it will be going against the hugely-anticapted Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which could cause some fierce battle on opening weekend.
Knightley has had a good variety of films over the past few years, ranging from the comedy Laggies to the survival blockbuster Everest. And while not all of these have been huge successes at the box office, her performances have still clearly been noticed from the multiple projects she has lined up.
Collateral Beauty will begin production later this month in New York.