Laura Dern (Wild) is reportedly in talks to join Michael Keaton (Birdman) in The Founder, per The Hollywood Reporter. The biopic will highlight the growth of the McDonald’s franchise and brand built by founder Ray Krock (Keaton). Dern would play Keatons wife, Ethel.
If the two-time Academy Award nominee joins the movie, Dern would add to the film’s potential during awards season, with the film already getting buzz after The Weinstein Company announced it is currently set to release Nov. 25, 2016. The script was written by Robert Siegel (Big Fan), who also wrote 2008’s The Wrestler. John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) is directing, which only adds to the awards hype.
Up next, Dern stars in the drama 99 Homes with Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon, which will be released in September. She also has another drama, Mothers Day, that’s set to hit theaters in May of 2016, as well as the yet-to-be titled adaptation of Maile Meloy short stories directed by Kelly Reichardt, which was just acquired by Sony.
We’ll have more on The Founder as the cast continues to expand.