Originally slated to be released this summer, and then bumped for what was supposed to be awards contention this fall, The Weinstein Company have gone pretty quiet on “The Founder,” instead choosing to focus their hopes on “Lion.” And while the film did have an Oscar-qualifying run this month, so far, whatever awards push it has been given hasn’t resulted in any traction at all from the various groups handing out trophies.
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Starring Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, Linda Cardellini, Laura Dern, B.J. Novak, and John Carroll Lynch, the drama tells the true story of the man behind the McDonald’s brothers, who turned their burger joint into a mega franchise that changed fast food forever. Here’s the official synopsis:
Directed by John Lee Hancock (SAVING MR. BANKS), THE FOUNDER features the true story of how Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. Writer Robert Siegel (THE WRESTLER) details how Kroc maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire. The film also stars Laura Dern as Ray Kroc’s first wife Ethel; John Carroll Lynch as Mac McDonald and Nick Offerman as Dick McDonald.
Directed by John Lee Hancock (“The Blind Side,” “Saving Mr. Banks“), “The Founder” opens on January 20, 2017. Below, you can check out the first clip via Deadline with Keaton’s Ray Kroc explaining why he’s lovin’ it, along with some new images from the movie.
