Irish director John Carney has remained relatively quiet since his 2007 sleeper hit “Once” — while he did make the low-fi sci-fi-comedy “Zonad” which featured at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009, to say that film didn’t exactly reach the heights of the filmmaker’s previous effort would be a major understatement. That might explain then why, without the knowledge of many, Carney’s next film is already in post-production after shooting late last year.
Titled “The Rafters,” the film is described as a supernatural thriller set at “an old guesthouse in the Aran islands [as] two American backpackers vie for the affections of a young woman who is, literally, haunted by her past.” Little known actors Marcella Plunkett, Killian Scott, Sean Donegan, Maire O’Neill and Des Nealon lead the cast with the above image touted as concept art. We’re intrigued to see what Carney has to offer with a genre thriller like this, but it is a bit of a head-scratcher considering the trajectory where he seemed to be heading.
Unfortunately, with this film’s production, it doesn’t seem to bode well for the somewhat long-lost “Town House” which Carney had been attached to direct with Zach Galifianakis and Amy Adams previously in talks to star in. The project was based on a Tish Cohen novel of the same name and followed the story of a man who lives with his teenage son in a historic Boston townhouse that he inherited from his rock star father. With royalties from his father’s work dwindling, the man is forced to come to terms with his life… and a call girl strikes up a friendship with the man. But we haven’t heard a peep since and when asked about many of the projects he was rumored to be involved in last year, Galifianakis said, I’m gonna tell you right now, half of those [films] are not [happening].” Whether he meant “Town House” or not, we’re not 100% sure, but our guess is yes.
Perhaps it was explored territory too similar to that of Paolo Sorrentino‘s recent Cannes feature, “This Must Be The Place,” but that array of talent is definitely one we’d love to see team any day; shame. No word either on what Carney had cooking with Judd Apatow. [via Twitch]
