Ben Platt, Beanie Feldstein to Star in Multi-Year Richard Linklater-Directed Film: Report
There are plans to adapt the Stephen Sondheim musical "Merrily We Roll Along" to film, and pieces seem to be falling into place nicely.
"Boyhood" director Richard Linklater will direct a multi-year movie with stars Ben Platt and Beanie Feldstein, according to Collider. The publication's sources also say Ginger Sledge and Blumhouse's Jason Blum are on board. For now, there's been no official confirmation of the news.
The project sounds like an interesting one, not to mention a huge undertaking. Like the musical, it would follow characters over two decades. Linklater, who has ample experience working with actors over many years, is said to intend to shoot it over an extended time period.
The musical -- itself based on George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's play of the same name -- centers on Franklin Shepard, a Broadway musical composer who left his friends and songwriting ambitions behind to produce Hollywood movies. It moves backward, showing the moments and decisions that altered his path. In order to capture the many years the story covers, Linklater will shoot in reverse chronological order, Collider's sources say.
Platt's character is reportedly Shepard, while Feldstein will portray Mary Flynn, his close friend and a film critic. The two both appeared in "The Female Brain," and each has a series on the way. Platt will star in "The Politican" on Netflix, while Feldstein has a main role in "American Crime Story: Impeachment." Recent films for him include "Drunk Parents" and "Run This Town," and hers include "Booksmart" and "Lady Bird."
For now, we'd better get used to waiting for this movie, because it sounds like it won't be released for a long, long time.
[via: Collider]