While Lars Von Trier is no stranger to attracting Hollywood types to his movies, particularly with his films "Dogville" and "Manderlay," you might think his upcoming, sex-driven "The Nymphomaniac" might be the kind of project agents keep away from their talent. Guess again. Shia LaBeouf signed on earlier this month to the film being led by Charlotte Gainsbourg and Stellan Skarsgard, with Nicole Kidman and Willem Dafoe both rumored, and while the latter pair are yet to be confirmed, Von Trier's next endeavor has just added a batch of talent, including two more prominent names.
Tintin and Billy Elliot himself Jamie Bell, as well as Connie Nielsen ("Boss," "One Hour Photo," Mrs. Calloway in "Rushmore") have joined the film alongside frequent collaborator Jens Albinus ("Antichrist," "Dogville," "Dancer In The Dark," "The Idiots," "The Boss Of It All"), Shanti Roney, Severin von Hoensbroech, Nicolas Bro and Jesper Christensen. What roles everyone will be playing is being kept under wraps, but as we already know, the two-part film will feature explicit hardcore sex (there will also be a softcore version) with LaBeouf revealing that a disclaimer regarding those scenes arrived with the script. However, producers have said body doubles and visual effects will also be used, which jibes with what Gainsbourg said back in February. To recap, here's the official synopsis:
NYMPHOMANIAC is the light and poetic story of a woman's erotic journey from birth to the age of 50 as told by the main character, the self-‐diagnosed nymphomaniac, Joe.
On a cold winter's evening Seligman, an old bachelor, finds Joe semi‐unconscious and beaten up in an alleyway. After bringing her to his flat he sees to her wounds while trying to understand how things could have gone so wrong for her. He listens intently as she over the next 8 chapters recounts the lushly branched-‐out and multi faceted story of her life, rich in associations and interjecting incidents.
No release date for this one yet, but producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen said earlier this year the he's aiming for a Cannes premiere in 2013. It's a bold move considering Von Trier has became persona non grata on the Crositte in 2011 following his comments at the "Melancholia" press conference. And while the helmer himself may not show up — in the fall he announced he would no longer do press or interviews — we'd reckon Thierry Fremaux will find this one hard to resist if he can snag the world premiere.
Production on "The Nymphomaniac" kicks off on Tuesday. [THR]
