Earlier today, it was announced that MANCHESTER BY THE SEA award-winning actor Casey Affleck has signed on to star in STONER, a film about a dirt poor farmer-turned-academic who emerges as an unlikely existential hero while making his way through the first half of the 20th century.
Set to direct the feature for Blumhouse, Cohen Media Group and Film 4 is Joe Wright (HANNA, PRIDE & PREJUDICE), who will work from a script penned by Andrew Bovell that is based on the novel of the same name by John Williams. Recently, Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions expressed his enthusiasm for the project by saying, “Because the novel is so beautiful but not well-known, fans of 'Stoner' feel like they’re in a secret club. I’m so excited that Casey, Joe and Andrew have come aboard to help expand this club’s membership. This quintessentially American work is being brought to the screen by a terrific international team and we’re confident their combined perspectives will add rich layers to this moving story.”
STONER is being viewed as something of a return-to-form for Wright after his tentpole film, PAN, underwhelmed fans of the timeless fairy tale source material and disappointed investors at the box office. If successful, STONER will become yet another feather in Blumhouse Production's cap after the releases of thrillers like M. Night Shyamalan's SPLIT and Jordan Peele's surprise smash-hit GET OUT.
Casey Affleck can be seen starring beside Robert Redford and Elizabeth Moss in the upcoming feature film OLD MAN AND THE GUN, which is set to tell the tale of an elderly bank robber, who had managed to escape from prison over a dozen times in his life before moving to a retirement community. After some time, the felon looks to spice things up with another heist. Look for more news concerning STONER as things get rolling.