Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, Clifton Collins Jr. Join Black Bear’s Denis Johnson Adaptation ‘Train Dreams’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”), William H. Macy (“Fargo,” “Shameless”) and Clifton Collins Jr. (“Jockey,” “Capote”) have joined director Clint Bentley’s “Train Dreams,” Variety has learned.
Production on the film, from Black Bear and also starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, began earlier this month in Spokane, Wash.
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“Train Dreams” is the sweeping and poignant tale of Robert Grainier (Edgerton), a day laborer employed as a logger helping to expand the railways across America. Forced to spend prolonged periods of time away from his wife, Gladys (Jones), and their young daughter, Grainier struggles to make sense of his place in a rapidly changing world. As his story unfolds, he experiences great love, unspeakable loss, and unique bonds on a journey that is both distinct and universal. The picture features a script by Bentley and Greg Kwedar (“Sing Sing”), which is adapted from Denis Johnson’s iconic, Pulitzer Prize-nominated novella of the same name. Damien Ober penned a previous draft of the script.
The film is being produced by Marissa McMahon and Ashley Schlaifer for Kamala Films, Teddy Schwarzman and Michael Heimler for Black Bear, and Will Janowitz. Edgerton, Kwedar, Scott Hinckley, and Black Bear’s John Friedberg serve as executive producers. Black Bear fully financed the picture and is handling international sales. WME Independent is repping U.S. rights.
Condon has been on a roll since winning a BAFTA and landing an Oscar nomination for her role in “The Banshees of Inisherin.” She’s currently filming Joseph Kosinski’s as-yet-untitled F1 movie with Brad Pitt and will soon be seen in “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” alongside Jude Law on Disney+. Macy, who earned an Oscar nomination for “Fargo,” will next star in the upcoming “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” Meanwhile, “Train Dreams” marks the third collaboration between Collins Jr. and director Bentley and writer Kwedar. He’ll next be seen in A24’s “Eddington” from Ari Aster.
Condon is represented by CAA, the Curtis Brown Group, Framework Entertainment and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman. Macy is repped by Independent Artist Group and Atlas Artists. Collins Jr. is represented by CAA, MGMT Entertainment and Yorn, Levine, Barnes, Krintzman, Rubenstein, Kohner, Endlich, Goodell & Gellman.
The Black Bear slate includes the Sydney Sweeney horror vehicle “Immaculate,” which Neon released last month; Guy Ritchie’s “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” from Lionsgate starring Henry Cavill, which is also currently in theaters; and “Nyad, starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, both of whom were nominated for Oscars for their roles. Upcoming films include Greg Kwedar’s “Sing Sing” starring Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo from A24; David Ayer’s “Levon’s Trade” starring Jason Statham; “Relay” from director David Mackenzie, starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James; and Matthew McConaughey crime thriller “The Rivals of Amziah King.”
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