ROTTEN TOMATOES: Claire Danes Joins Zac Efron in Linklater's Me and Orson Welles

Claire Danes Joins Zac Efron in Linklater's Me and Orson Welles

Kaplow adaptation starts shooting this month.

by Jeff Giles | February 01, 2008

He's been known to make the most of modern technology in his films, but for his next project, Richard Linklater is taking his inspiration from a good old-fashioned book.

Starting this month, Linklater will be filming an adaptation of Robert Kaplow's Me and Orson Welles, described by The Hollywood Reporter as a "period coming-of-age novel" that takes place in 1937. According to the Reporter, Claire Danes, Eddie Marsan, Leo Bill, and Imogen Poots have just joined a cast that already included Zac Efron, Ben Chaplin, and Christian McKay. The latter is making his screen debut in the film, which the Reporter describes as follows:

[It] centers on a high school student (Efron) who, while strolling the streets of New York, happens upon the yet-to-open Mercury Theatre and is noticed by its mercurial founder, Orson Welles. He lands a bit part in "Julius Caesar," the production that catapulted Welles to the top, and spends the next week learning about life and love. Newcomer Christian McKay plays Welles, and Chaplin ("Water Horse: The Legend of the Deep") has been cast as English film and stage actor George Coulouris.

Linklater is doing a bit of looking back behind the scenes as well -- Orson Welles' script was written by Holly Gent Palmo, who worked as a production assistant on Linklater's Dazed and Confused.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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(1-12 of 12 posts) | Reply

whiskeyriver writes:
on Feb 01 2008 06:07 AM

Imogen POOTS? Oh, poor girl. But hey, more power to her that she is not afraid of her last name and didn't change it for the screen.

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JayWells87 writes:
on Feb 01 2008 07:23 AM

YES!!!!!!!!! I loved this book, and I don't care if Zac Eforn is in it, I can't wait for the movie. Richard Linklater's involvement sealed it for me.

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Feb 01 2008 08:40 AM

I like Linklater, and love Danes, but the story sounds ok and I hate Efron(they should fire him).

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PornAgainChristian writes:
on Feb 01 2008 12:06 PM

Ugh, another filmmaker trying to boost himself by leeching the genius of Orson Welles. I thought that hack Tim Robbins cornered the market on this.

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Mr. Bowler writes:
on Feb 01 2008 12:12 PM

"High School Musical" meets "Citizen Cane" anyone? Seriously though, why is Efron in this?

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Mr. Bowler writes:
on Feb 01 2008 12:15 PM

Oops, meant to spell that "Citizen Kane". Why doesn't RT let you edit?

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rt_hire_me writes:
on Feb 01 2008 12:45 PM

Glad to see E Murphy doing something worthwhile. I can't imagine what part he would play, though I hope it doesn't require a fat suit or faking a Jewish accent.

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Lyman Ward writes:
on Feb 01 2008 06:13 PM

Linklater should scrap this project and just focus on the third installment of the Before Sunrise, Before Sunset movies. Although they could be waiting another nine years before filming it as they did for the second film to give a more realistic aspect of the passage of time between Hawke and Delpy's charaters.

This is risky though because you never know what star is going to pass on and when(Ledger)and its my opinion that the characters in those movies are Linklater's best and most valueable creations. And Efron? WTF?

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Cowboyninja writes:
on Feb 01 2008 10:03 PM

This news is making me feel soft and fuzzy in my special spot.

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Silverevilchao writes:
on Feb 03 2008 12:12 AM

"Seriously though, why is Efron in this?"

Because Hairspray pwned.

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AquaFina writes:
on Feb 03 2008 11:44 AM

There's no reason to assume anything about Zac Efron. He was lucky enough to be cast in a made-for-TV movie that ended up a huge hit, and did well enough with his musical numbers in Hairspray. He's had no chance to showcase any acting talent. Let this project serve as his shot to prove something.

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rainy-days writes:
on Feb 04 2008 01:56 PM

Putting Efron in a show will expand its audience, and get it watched more.

(Reply to this)

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