As we pointed out recently, following their acquisition of Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming 1970s San Fernando Valley movie, MGM is making movies. Now run by Michael De Luca—a former New Line Cinema executive who champion filmmakers like David Fincher, F. Gary Gray, and Paul Thomas Anderson— the MGM chairman is seemingly setting up a similar shop that includes blockbusters like the Bond series, but also smart thrillers and art fair directed by award-winning filmmakers. The latest to join the fold is Joe Wright who is adapting a film version of a musical stage adaptation of the famous Cyrano de Bergerac play, where some of the same actors from the stage will reprise their roles.
The cast is stacked. “Game of Thrones” star Peter Dinklage returns in the title role he played onstage alongside Haley Bennett who will also reprise her role as Roxanne. Brian Tyree Henry and Ben Mendelsohn will also appear, and the film will be produced by Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner—longtime Wright collaborators—along with Guy Heeley.
Focus Features and Universal usually get crack at Working Title films, so this one is definitely a coup for MGM. The musical was written by Erica Schmidt, who also happens to be Dinklage’s wife), adapted from Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac. The libretto and the music is also stacked and much of it comes from the indie rock band The National. The band’s Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner wrote the music and the lyrics were written by the band’s singer. Matt Berninger. Carin Besser, who has contributed to many of the band’s songs also worked on the project.
The National has been making their own moves of late—Aaron Dessner most recently produced Taylor Swift’s Folklore album. Joe Wright is best known for “Anna Karenina,” “Hanna,” Academy Award-winner “The Darkest Hour,” and, most recently, the Amy Adams-starring “The Woman In The Window” which is in the process of being sold from Disney to Netflix. [Deadline]