Guy Pearce joins Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman in “Genius”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Guy Pearce and Dominic West are to join Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Laura Linney in Michael Grandage’s “Genius”, Variety said.

Pearce will take the role of F. Scott Fitzgerald alongside West as Ernest Hemmingway in leading theater director Grandage’s debut feature film.

Adapted by playwright and screenwriter John Logan from A. Scott Berg’s book, “Genius” tells the true story of the complex relationship between literary giant Thomas Wolfe and Scribner’s iconic editor Max Perkins. Law stars as Wolfe opposite Firth as Perkins, with Kidman as Aline Bernstein and Linney as Louise Perkins.

“Genius” is the third collaboration between Grandage, his producing partner James Bierman and Logan following the hit stage productions of “Red,” inspired by artist Mark Rothko, which nabbed six Tony Awards (including best director) and, most recently, “Peter and Alice,” starring Judi Dench and Ben Wishaw.

“John Logan is one of the greatest story-tellers of our time both on stage and screen, and I’m loving working with him again on ‘Genius,’ ” said Grandage.

“Genius” will commence filming this October at Shepperton Studios and on location in the U.K.

Tim Bevan is executive producer alongside producers Bierman, Grandage and Logan. Mark Digby is production designer, Ben Davis is director of photography, Jane Petrie is costume designer and Chris Dickens is editor. The pic is produced by Desert Wolf Productions and the Michael Grandage Company.

FilmNation is handling international sales and CAA the domestic sale.

Grandage, who was artistic director at the Donmar Warehouse for 10 years, and Bierman are one of the most successful creative teams in the theater industry, winning Tony, Drama Desk, Olivier, Evening Standard, Critics’ Circle and South Bank awards.

The newly formed MGC has just completed a sell-out 15 month theater season in London’s West End. Productions included Martin McDonagh’s “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” starring Daniel Radcliffe, which then transferred to Broadway, and “Henry V,” starring Jude Law.

Desert Wolf was founded by Logan in 2012 to create film, television and theater projects. The Showtime series “Penny Dreadful” is the first official Desert Wolf production.