Golden Globe winnerOscar Isaacis set to star in Lionsgate’s high-concept thrillerLondon, whichBen Stillerwill direct from a script by Oscar winnerEric Roth.
The film is based on a new short story from bestselling crime writerJo Nesbo, author ofThe Snowman,Headhunters, andThe Son. Isaac obtained the rights in a competitive situation and will produce via his Mad Gene Media banner along with his longtime managerJason Spire. Stiller and his producing partnerNicky Weinstockwill produce for Red Hour, while Nesbo will executive produce alongsideNiclas Salomonsson.
There are no plot details yet, but I dig the idea of Isaac teaming with Stiller, who has been impressed me as a director and doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves, especially when you consider that his first four films wereReality Bites,The Cable Guy,ZoolanderandTropic Thunder. Sure, theZoolandersequel was terrible, but Stiller quickly redeemed himself behind the camera, winning a DGA Award for directing Showtime’s limited seriesEscape at DannemorastarringBenicio del Toro,Paul DanoandPatricia Arquette. The show also earned him a a pair of Emmy nominations, including his first for directing. He also won an Emmy more than 25 years ago as a writer onThe Ben Stiller Show.
While Stiller is unlikely to appear on camera inLondon, I do miss him in front of the camera, having enjoyed his last two performances in the indieBrad’s StatusandNoah Baumbach’s Netflix dramedyThe Meyerowitz Stories. I’m also a big fan of Stiller’s last three producing credits – the raunchy Netflix comedyThe Package, the streamer’s drug documentaryHave a Good Trip, and the upcoming comedyDinner in America, which Ireviewed out of Sundance.
Isaac won a Golden Globe for his starring turn on the HBO limited seriesShow Me a Hero, and he earned his first Globe nom two years earlier forInside Llewyn Davis. He’ll soon be seen inDenis Villeneuve’s big-budgetDunereboot, as well asPaul Schrader’s low-budget indieThe Card Counter, which pairs him withTye Sheridan,Tiffany HaddishandWillem Dafoe.
Roth is one of Hollywood’s greatest screenwriters. He won an Oscar forForrest Gump, and was nominated four additional times forMichael Mann’sThe Insider,Steven Spielberg’sMunich,David Fincher’sThe Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonandBradley Cooper’s remake ofA Star Is Born, all of which were based on prior source material.Deadlinebroke the news. For more onThe Card Counter,click here.
