Will Paul Schrader indeed make “The Basics Of Philosophy” amid his current controversies? That remains to be seen. But The Wrap reports that the 78-year-old auteur has his leads for his next picture, which he hopes to shoot this year.
Jack Huston and Sofia Boutella will star in Schrader’s latest, about an intellectual university philosophy professor. Schrader plans for the film to be in the style of his “man in a room” movies that runs through his filmography. Recent films of that ilk include “First Reformed,” “The Card Counter,” and “Master Gardener,” but the motif goes back as far as Schrader’s screenplay for “Taxi Driver,” as well as films like “American Gigolo” and “Light Sleeper.” Shooting starts on the feature in Missouri next month.
Known mainly as a character actor, Huston belongs to the famed Hollywood Huston family that includes his grandfather, the late director John Huston, and his aunt, actress Angelica Huston. Best known for supporting roles in “Boardwalk Empire,” “American Hustle,” and “The Irishman,” Huston recently made his directorial debut with “Day Of The Flight.”
As for Boutella, the French-Algerian actress broke in the mid-2010s in fare like “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” “The Mummy,” and “Atomic Blonde” opposite Charlize Theron. More recently, Boutella starred in Zack Snyder‘s “Rebel Moon” films, and stars next in “DreamQuil,” a psychological thriller, and Peter Greenaway‘s “Tower Stories.”
Despite declining health, Schrader remains prolific for his age. His previous film, “Oh, Canada,” hit theaters last Fall after it had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival last May. Since then, however, the director has been mired in controversy. Two months ago, Schrader was accused of sexual assault and harassment by a former assistant, who file a lawsuit against him in the Supreme Court of New York. Schrader’s legal team denied the allegations, and Schrader plans to defend themselves in the case. It’s still unclear if the lawsuit will go to trial.
As for “The Basics Of Philosophy,” if Schrader, Huston, and Boutella plan to shoot in July, then the film’s financiers aren’t too concerned about the allegations against the director. But let’s see how this story develops…
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