After teaming for the Academy Award-winning film GREEN BOOK, Viggo Mortensen and director Peter Farrelly are set to join forces once again for a new film.
Unlike his starring role for GREEN BOOK, Mortensen plans to board Farrelly's latest project in a support role capacity. The untitled film will be based on the book The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A True Story of Friendship Stronger Than War. Written by Joanna Molloy and John “Chickie” Donohue, the story revolves around the true story of Donohue, who left New York in 1967 to track down and share a few beers with his childhood buddies in the Army … while they were fighting in Vietnam. (via Variety) In addition to directing the film, Farrelly will also co-write the script with Brian Currie and Pete Jones.
Previously, Farrelly's GREEN BOOK was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning three, including best picture and screenplay, as well as the prize for supporting actor thanks to a powerful performance from Mahershala Ali. In GREEN BOOK (Buy Here), a working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver of an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South. At the time of the 2018 Academy Awards ceremony, GREEN BOOK's Best Picture win sent shockwaves throughout the industry, as many were convinced that films the likes of BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (Buy Here), BLACKKKLANSMAN (Buy Here), or Yorgos Lanthimos' THE FAVOURITE (Buy Here) would surely take the crown. As it happens, I can still recall watching the ceremony while in Portland for a trip to Laika Studios, and let me tell you, the room positively erupted when GREEN BOOK took Best Picture. I'm fairly certain that some new expletives were invented that evening, as many of my fellow journos were left reeling from the news. Good times. Much whisky.
We'll be sure to bring you more details on Farrelly's next project as it develops.