Rooney Mara to join Joaquin Phoenix in Gus Van Sant drama

PanARMENIAN.Net - Rooney Mara and Jonah Hill are in talks to co-star with Joaquin Phoenix in the Gus Van Sant-directed drama “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot”, the long-in-development biopic on quadriplegic cartoonist John Callahan, Variety said.

Iconoclast and Anonymous Content are producing the film, which is based on Callahan’s autobiography of the same name. Callahan became paralyzed following a car accident at age 21, and turned to drawing as a form of therapy. The artist’s work raised eyebrows for its depiction of taboo topics, leading to numerous boycotts in his hometown of Portland.

His art was published in the New Yorker, Penthouse, and Playboy before his death in 2010.

Charles-Marie Anthonioz, Mourad Belkeddar, and Nicolas Lhermitte will produce the movie for Iconoclast, while Steve Golin produces for Anonymous Content.

Hollywood has been trying to adapt the book since its publication in 1989, with the late Robin Williams circling the role of Callahan for years.

The film would mark another dramatic turn for Hill, who was just nominated for Golden Globe for his comedy “War Dogs.” Hill will next star in the upcoming pic “The Ballad of Richard Jewell” with Leonardo DiCaprio which Hill will produce and he is also set to star in Cary Joji Fukunaga’s TV series “Maniac” with Emma Stone. He is also developing his directorial debut, “Mid ’90s” with A24. He will not star in the pic.

Mara is no stranger to awards-friendly features, as she currently stars opposite Dev Patel in “Lion,” which has received love from both the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards. She recently wrapped production on The Weinstein Company pic “Mary Magdalene,” which is sure to fare well during next year’s awards season, and is set to star in the pop star drama “Vox Lux.”