Christoph Waltz To Play Billy Wilder For Director Stephen Frears – Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: Two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds), Stranger Issues and Maestro star Maya Hawke, Cannes Greatest Actor winner John Turturro (Severance), and Emmy winner Jon Hamm (Mad Males) are set to star in Oscar-nominated director Stephen Frears’ (The Queen) Wilder & Me, which can be a buzzy bundle at this month’s EFM market.

Hawke will play Calista, a younger musician whose life takes on a complete new which means whereas engaged on the set of Billy Wilder’s movie Fedora. Waltz will play legendary movie director Wilder, recognized for classics together with Some Like It Scorching, Sundown Boulevard and The Residence. Turturro will play his lifelong good friend and screenwriting companion I.A.L. Diamond. Hamm will play famed actor William Holden.

Described as a “bittersweet drama”, the venture has been tailored for the display by two-time Oscar winner Christopher Hampton (The Father) with Oscar winner Jeremy Thomas (The Final Emperor) producing and shoot scheduled for early 2025 in Greece.

CAA Media Finance, which is arranging financing for the movie, represents the North American rights, with HanWay Movies dealing with the remainder of the world.

Based mostly on Jonathan Coe’s common novel Mr Wilder and Me, the venture reunites Hampton and Frears once more after Harmful Liaisons and Cheri.

The story begins out throughout a heady Greek summer time, and sees Calista fall in love with cinema and life on a journey of self-discovery. Thrilled by her new journey, Calista follows Wilder to Munich and Paris to proceed the shoot with main actor William Holden, and experiences her old flame. Realising his star is on the wane, Wilder navigates the altering world of cinema within the twilight of his profession, whereas Calista’s profession is simply starting. The time she spends on this glamorous, unfamiliar new life will change her eternally.

The plan is for the manufacturing to utilize among the Greek places initially utilized by Wilder. Jeremy Thomas is producing for his Recorded Image Firm banner, marking his second movie with Frears after their cult thriller The Hit. Thomas additionally collaborated with Hampton on David Cronenberg’s A Harmful Technique.

Frears mentioned at the moment: “That is essentially the most great venture. Wilder was sharp, intelligent and really very humorous. And he directed Marilyn Monroe twice! Christoph Waltz can be magnificent. I at all times go by the script and this one is terrific.”

Hampton added: “Wilder And Me is the story of veteran film-makers within the Nineteen Seventies, starting to understand the extent of the modifications throughout the business and the methods during which they’ve failed to maneuver with the occasions; it’s in regards to the reminiscences that hang-out an émigré on his return to the boneyard of Europe; and it exhibits how an open-minded youthful technology can draw inspiration from the giants of the previous.”

Jeremy Thomas commented: “Billy Wilder has crammed us all with the enjoyment of cinema with among the most memorable motion pictures ever made. Informed by the eyes of a younger girl on the set of one in all Billy’s final movies, our story exhibits why they nonetheless maintain a lot magic.”

Gabrielle Stewart of HanWay famous: “It’s at all times thrilling to announce such a giant bundle with award successful expertise each in entrance and behind the digicam akin to Waltz, Turturro, Frears and Hampton. And at its coronary heart, Maya Hawke is the right actress to take us on a magical journey of self-discovery and old flame on the set of a legendary movie director.”

Christoph Waltz is represented by Adam Schweitzer, Dar Rollins and Layne Murrow at CAA. Maya Hawke is represented by Franklin Latt, Andrea Weintraub, Peter Levine and Ruby Kaye at CAA, and managed by Liza Zusman and Jason Weintraub at Untitled Leisure. John Turturro is represented by UTA and George Sheanshang. Jon Hamm is represented by Chris Andrews and Ryan Abboushi at CAA.