While a lot of people seem to be talking about Emerald Fennell shocking everyone with her directorial debut, “Promising Young Woman,” earning a ton of awards season love. But right behind her is none other than Florian Zeller, the French playwright that has struck gold with his directorial debut, “The Father,” which has earned six Oscar nominations this year. And it appears that things are only looking up for Zeller, as he lands two incredible actors for his follow-up film, “The Son.”
READ MORE: ‘Nomadland,’ ‘Promising Young Woman’ Or ‘Minari’ For The Win? [Contender Countdown]
According to Deadline, Zeller’s next film is an adaptation of his own play, “The Son.” And chosen to star in the film are Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern. Despite the name, “The Son” does not seem to be a sequel to “The Father.” Instead, the film tells the story of a man (Jackman) that is enjoying life with his new wife and their young child. However, things get thrown into chaos when his ex-wife (Dern) returns and brings him their teenage son, who has a slew of behavioral issues.
“‘The Son’ is a deeply human story which, I believe, connects us all; I hope audiences will be profoundly moved by this family’s journey,” said Zeller. “Both Hugh and Laura naturally convey great warmth, compassion, and vulnerability… inviting our audience to embrace and feel every moment. The story is set in a vibrant and very much alive New York, an important character. The movie should make us call family and friends to tell them that they are wholly loved and not alone.”
READ MORE: Hugh Jackman Wanted Lee Daniels To Direct A ‘Wolverine’ Movie
Jackman is probably best known for his work in the ‘X-Men’ film franchise over the past 20 years. However, more recently, he’s appeared in a number of acclaimed films such as “Bad Education” and “The Front Runner.” He seems to be very comfortable leaving his superhero days in the past and moving to a more dramatic film future. Dern, on the other hand, doesn’t have a superhero past to discuss (though, how good would she be in a villainous role?), but she does have some incredible performances in recent films like “Marriage Story,” “Little Women,” and “The Tale.”
It’s unclear when production might begin on “The Son,” but with Zeller’s recent success and two A-listers like Dern and Jackman, the film is shaping up to be a must-see.