Caffeinated Clint
Good to see Jeff Bridges and Diane Lane doing a flick together. Both super solid actors. Back in the ’80s they would’ve made for a sizzling couple in some sort of Lyne-helmed super thriller – though they did share scenes in the ’90s western “Wild Bill”. Alas, they’re together for a drama about a self-obsessed violinist, played by the Big Lebowski himself, who moves back in with estranged wife Lane when he gets sick.
The untitled project, to be directed by Reed Morano, will be stumped at Cannes.
CANNES, London, UK – May 8, 2017 — Bankside Films announced today that Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges and Academy Award nominee Diane Lane will star in the Untitled Project (formerly known as First Chair), to be directed by Reed Morano, who is currently receiving rave reviews for her work as the Director / EP of the pilot and episodes 2 & 3 of The Handmaid’s Tale for Hulu. Script was written by Academy Award nominee Stuart Blumberg (The Kids Are All Right). Film marks the first film developed by Bankside Films, an international sales and film finance company that has recently taken a more active role in production. Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert for EMJAG Productions, David Schiff for MGMT Entertainment, Phil Hunt and Compton Ross for Head Gear Films will produce the film with Hilary Davis, Stephen Kelliher and Patrick Howson executive producing. CAA, WME and Bankside Films will co-represent domestic rights with Bankside exclusively handling foreign sales. The Untitled Reed Morano Project will shoot October 2017 in Boston and will be presented to buyers at Cannes.
When a regimented, self-obsessed virtuoso violinist (Bridges) is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, he is forced to move back in with his estranged wife (Lane) as he begins treatment. As they attempt to learn how to live with each other again, he experiences a profound change in his behavior which compels him to learn to connect with the music and the people that surround him in astonishing and unexpected ways.
Bankside Films’ Stephen Kelliher states “The project has brought together some of Hollywood’s most exciting talent to tell an intensely moving story in a unique, refreshing and dynamic way. We could not be more excited to be working with such a prestigious team and to be working with our co-producers EMJAG Productions to bring this very special story to the world.”
Jeff Bridges says, “The film has a lot going for it, a wonderful script by Stuart Blumberg, to be directed by Reed Morano who directed “Meadowland,” which I thought was a terrific film and the opportunity to work with Diane Lane again (we worked together in Wild Bill); plus, it involves music, which always warms my heart.”
Diane Lane expressed her happiness in once again having the opportunity to work with Jeff Bridges and shared, “This is a wonderful story. I’m thrilled to have Reed behind the camera as our director and appreciate her keen eye and talent thanks to her previous work as a cinematographer.”
Reed Morano recently directed I Think We’re Alone Now starring Elle Fanning and Peter Dinklage and Meadowland starring Olivia Wilde and Luke Wilson. She is also known for her cinematography on films including Frozen River, Meadowland and Beyoncé: Lemonade. Morano is represented by WME.
Jeff Bridges will be seen this summer in The Only Living Boy in New York and this fall in Kingsman: The Golden Circle and Granite Mountain. He is represented by CAA and MGMT. Entertainment.
Diane Lane will next be seen in Paris Can Wait, Felt and Justice League. She is represented by UTA.
