Amy Adams is getting out of the psych ward, or at least her character is in her new project, “Sharp Objects.” HBO has teamed up with the star for a new series based on the novel of the same name by Gillian Flynn. If Flynn’s name rings a few bells it’s likely because she also penned another successful book-to-film project: 2014 thriller “Gone Girl.” For this adaptation, HBO is foregoing the big screen in favor of a short, eight-episode series. The project will find a reporter recently discharged from a short stay in a psychiatric hospital, returning to her hometown to investigate the mysterious murder of two local, pre-teen girls. Adams, who will play the lead, is the only name currently attached to the project, but Firefly Casting is stocking additional roles as the production’s start date nears. While no shooting locations have been announced, filming will begin in March of 2017.
READ: “Ben Affleck on the ‘Psychological Mud’ of ‘Gone Girl’ ”
Paul Dano is taking inner turmoil to the open spaces of Montana. The actor turned writer-director is stepping behind the lens for his next project and directorial debut, “Wildlife.” The story, based on the novel by Richard Ford, and co-written by fellow actor Zoe Kazan, follows the teenaged Joe as he’s uprooted to Montana after his father loses his job. While his dad fights fires across the massive landscape, Joe fights his own demons, which surface when his parents’ marriage begins to dissolve.
While turmoil may be the film’s primary theme, the production itself has seen some shakeups, having flipped directors a handful of times before landing on Dano. The film is currently without any cast but the women over at Laura Rosenthal Casting are stepping up to add actors to the project. Filming will commence in early October on the coming-of-age tale. Montana will share hosting duties with Minnesota when production kicks off.
READ: “Why Paul Dano Almost Quit Acting”
The life of former child celebrities may be fraught with adulthood horrors but the life of a child drug informant can one-up Hollywood dysfunction any day. “White Boy Rick,” inspired by the real life of Richard Wershe Jr., tells the story of a teenager who goes undercover for the local and federal police to help nab a group of drug dealers. With a handful of seedy childhood associations and a tight knit working relationship with the authorities, the kid goes from informant to a high-level narcotics peddler, making for some crazy extracurricular activities. The Black List script, which combines two separate scripts on the subject, is currently looking for its cast with the help of casting director Francine Maisler. The project is currently sans location or filming dates but announcements are expected as the project moves into pre-production.
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