'Maps to the Stars' Update - Rachel Weisz Joins the Cast + Production Set to Start in May

From TheFilmStage

Breathe another sigh of relief, for David Cronenberg is assembling his next film. As was reported just when Cosmopolis had a world premiere, Canada’s best-known cinematic artist is making another endeavor with that film’s star, Robert Pattinson, and his newest favorite collaborator, Viggo Mortensen, on a Hollywood satire called Maps to the Stars. Already good, right? Well, there’s even more too add.

French site Allocine report that Rachel Weisz is now the cast’s third member — who, however, it has not been said — while a production start is being eyed for next May. Described as “very acerbic and satirical” by Cronenberg himself, Maps to the Stars, from what we understand, is a Bruce Wagner-scripted film which revolves around actors and agents, with a specific focus on “two child actors ruined by Hollywood’s depravity.” This central content, no matter if what we’ve heard is even true, has made this a difficult-to-implement project — movement actually began in early 2006, for instance — but when you get (for lack of a better term) stars in line, it can fall together. Respected producer Saïd Ben Saïd doesn’t hurt, either.

They’re good stars, too. Cronenberg has already shown an ability to coax wonderful and unexpected performances from Maps‘ male stars, while, on the other side of the gender coin, I think Weisz has already secured her own image. It’s still a little while off until cameras begin rolling here, but the news should be coming in on and off for the next six months. Tune in, because I think this has a chance of being something special.

Saïd Ben Saïd will be producing.

From The Playlist

Brewing since 2006, not much has really been known about David Cronenberg's "Map to the Stars." In May he described it as, "very extreme. It's not obviously a very big commercial movie, and even as an independent film it's difficult. 'Maps to the Stars' is completely different [from 'Cosmopolis'], but it's very acerbic and satirical, it's a hard sell." But Cronenberg has made a career out of mounting one "hard sell" picture after another, and thanks to three major stars on board, this one looks like it's getting made.

Allocine (via The Film Stage) reveals that Rachel Weisz has joined Robert Pattinson and the now-confirmed Viggo Mortensen in the upcoming film. Penned by Bruce Wagner, Cronenberg previously explained: "You could say it's a Hollywood film because the characters are agents, actors and managers, but it is not a satire like 'The Player.' Hollywood is a world that is seductive and repellent at the same time, and it is the combination of the two that makes it so potent. I won't fall back on some clichés or simplistic sloganeering, because the culture and what it reveals about Western culture and the rest of the world is very complex."

The movie, oddly enough, will be his first picture shot on U.S. soil, with the filmmaker revealing earlier this year that it will lens in Los Angeles. No word yet on the roles the trio will play, but this one appears to be moving along nicely. Plans are underway for production to begin in May all on a budget of $15 million.

It will be interesting to see how the methodical Mortensen and young upstart Pattinson work together, and Weisz is always a treat. As usual with Cronenberg, we're curious to see what he brings to the big screen next.

From Deadline

David Cronenberg’s long-gestating Maps To The Stars is gaining some momentum. Robert Pattinson, who starred in Cosmopolis, and Cronenberg regular Viggo Mortensen have already been linked to the Hollywood-set film. Rachel Weisz is now in the mix, according to a French trade report. A person close to the film confirms Weisz’s interest, but tells me deals still need to be made for all three actors. Bruce Wagner penned the script that’s been described as a darkly comic look at Hollywood excess. Frenchman Saïd Ben Saïd, whose recent credits include Brian De Palma’s Passion and Roman Polanski’s Carnage, has come aboard as producer. He joins Prospero Pictures’ Martin Katz, who worked with Cronenberg on Cosmopolis and A Dangerous Method and is lead producer on the project. Germany’s Integral Films is co-producing. The plan is to start shooting in L.A. in May.