Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, the duo behind “Half Nelson” and “Sugar,” will have their next project financed, produced and distributed by Focus Features, something we would call a good look and a perfect match.
Described as a coming-of-age dramedy, “It’s Kind Of A Funny Story” will be written and directed by the pair and centers on 15 year old Craig, who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital after battling depression only to find himself admitted into the adult ward. Inside, the boy develops a series of colorful and dramatic relationships with a group of adults and even a girl of his own age. Interesting.
The film is based on a novel by Ned Vizzini which gained critical acclaim upon release. Fleck and Boden will have a $8 million dollar kitty to work with and will begin shooting in the late fall with casting aiming for a “name-driven adult ensemble” to complement “a number of discoveries for the teen roles.” So pretty much like “Half Nelson” which saw Ryan Gosling and newcomer Shareeka Epps combine phenomenally well, personified by award-season recognition. Let’s hope they can find an equally stellar duo.
Fleck and Boden are great and serious kudos to Focus Features for taking the plunge. No word on what has happened to their deal with Miramax to adapt the 2005 Marisha Pessl novel, “Special Topics in Calamity Physics,” but presumably that’s still in development. [THR]
