Krysten Ritter, Ari Graynor, and Brian Geraghty Star in AUDREY HEPBURN’S NECK
by Brendan Bettinger Posted: January 18th, 2011
Filmmaker Alan Brown (Book of Love) recently completed post-production on Private Romeo a contemporary take on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. You can expect the film to hit the festival circuit this spring, but Brown is already hard at work on his next film, Audrey Hepburn’s Neck. Brown will adapt the script from his 1996 novel about “a young Japanese man (Toshi) who is obsessed with slender American women, and his gay American friend, who has affairs with a series of Japanese men.”
So far, Brown has rounded up an affable cast in Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad), Ari Graynor (Fringe), Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker). I can’t vouch for its accuracy, but IMDB suggests Geraghty will play Paul, the gay American friend. Ritter is linked to the role of Lucy (a composer), and Graynor is listed as Jane, Toshi’s English teacher/affair partner who turns out to be insane. Sounds like an interesting project, and I’m curious to see who will play Toshi. Hit the jump for the official announcement.
‘AUDREY HEPBURN’S NECK’ TO REACH THE SCREEN.
Alan Brown Wraps “Romeo” and Prepares Adaptation of His Novel
New York (January 18, 2011) – Principal photography will begin in April 2011 on AUDREY HEPBURN’S NECK, an adaptation of the acclaimed 1996 novel by Alan Brown. Brown, who also wrote the screenplay, will direct for producer David Barrot on location in Tokyo. Krysten Ritter, Ari Graynor and Brian Geraghty will star in this romantic comedy-of-manners about a young Japanese man who is obsessed with slender American women, and his gay American friend, who has affairs with a series of Japanese men.
This will be Brown’s fourth feature as director, having just completed post-production on PRIVATE ROMEO, a contemporary rendering of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo And Juliet” that is expected to premiere on the festival circuit this spring. Filmed last summer in the New York area, Brown’s version of the classic is set entirely at a high school military academy, with the ” forbidden love” element of the original updated so that the star-crossed young lovers are both male and soldiers-in-training. Brown, (who shares screenwriting credit with Mr. Shakespeare) has cast the film with some of the most promising new faces on the Broadway scene, and his two leads Seth Numrich (“Romeo”) and Matt Doyle (“Juliet”) will both be starring in the eagerly anticipated NY production of “War Horse” which opens on April 14th. Agathe David-Weill produced the film, which also features Hale Appleman.
Hailed by Publishers Weekly as “captivating…delightfully buoyant and full of surprises,” “Audrey Hepburn’s Neck” was Brown’s first novel. A Fulbright Scholar who lived in Japan for seven years, he went on to write and direct the 2004 Sundance Competition entry, “The Book of Love,” starring Frances O’ Connor, Simon Baker, and Bryce Dallas Howard, and the 2007 drama, “Superheroes,” starring Dash Mihok, which was distributed by IFC. He made his filmmaking debut with the award-winning short, “O Beautiful,” which is part of the acclaimed “Boys Life” anthology series.
Following “Audrey Hepburn’s Neck,” Brown will re-team with his “Private Romeo” producer David-Weill, on “The Park,” based on Brown’s original screenplay.
Nora Arnezeder Is Ryan Reynolds’ Girlfriend in SAFE HOUSE; Producers Want to Approach Jeff Bridges Next
by Brendan Bettinger Posted: January 18th, 2011
French actress Nora Arnezeder (Paris 36) is in talks to play Ryan Reynolds’ love interest in Safe House, which also stars Denzel Washington and Tim McGraw. Reynolds plays a CIA agent who must transport a dangerous criminal (Washington) to safety. David Guggenheim’s script landed on the 2010 Black List (a collection of Hollywood’s finest unproduced screenplays), but Terry George (Reservation Road) is currently working on a rewrite. Daniel Espinoza (Snabba Cash) will direct.
This is where the news gets a little more dubious. Latino Review hears that the producers want to approach Jeff Bridges to play Deputy Vice Director Harland Whitford. It’s worded carefully enough to be rendered virtually meaningless. I mean, I want to approach Jeff Bridges to play Executive Comptroller Basil Kasinski in my movie, but it’s a long shot. Still, the producers of Safe House have more sway than I do, and Bridges would obviously be a fantastic addition to an already great cast.
Arnezeder is apparently becoming quite famous in her native France after an award-winning turn in Paris 36, which showed off her lovely singing voice. Hit the jump to watch Arnezeder record a cover of “Singin’ in the Rain” in studio.
