Paul Dano joins Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film playing a version of the director’s father Arnold
The childhood of influential director Steven Spielberg is heading to the big screen, with the cast getting even bigger with the addition of Paul Dano.
Dano, 36, has signed on to portray a version of Spielberg’s father, Arnold, according to Variety.
He joins Michelle Williams, who plays a version of Spielberg’s mother Leah, and Seth Rogen, playing a version of the filmmaker’s favorite uncle.
New role: The childhood of influential director Steven Spielberg is heading to the big screen, with the cast getting even bigger with the addition of Paul Dano
Version: Dano, 36, has signed on to portray a version of Spielberg’s father, Arnold, according to Variety
The filmmaker was born in Cincinnati in 1946 and moved to New Jersey for a few years in 1952 though this project will be based on his formative years in Phoenix, where his family moved in 1957.
While each of the characters in the film will be based on his real family members and others in his life, the characters will, ‘have a unique voice separate from the real people who serve as inspiration.’
Dano’s role is believed to be the last adult character, with the rest of the cast comprised of young actors including a boy inspired by Spielberg himself, though it’s said his name will not be Steven.
Formative: The filmmaker was born in Cincinnati in 1946 and moved to New Jersey for a few years in 1952 though this project will be based on his formative years in Phoenix, where his family moved in 1957
The filmmaker’s time in Arizona is when he first started making Super 8 films with his friends, and when his parents’ marriage started falling apart.
The currently-untitled project also marks the return to screenwriting for Spielberg, having co-written the screenplay with longtime collaborator Tony Kushner (Munich, Lincoln, West Side Story).
This is the first project Spielberg has had a hand in writing in 20 years, since the release of A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, a project Stanley Kubrick had been working on for years before his death.
Early films: The filmmaker’s time in Arizona is when he first started making Super 8 films with his friends, and when his parents’ marriage started falling apart
Production is expected to begin this summer, with the film expected to be released in 2022 through Spielberg’s Amblin Partners and their overall deal with Universal.
Both Spielberg and Kushner will also serve as producers through Amblin alongside Kristie Macosko Krieger.
Spielberg’s next film, a musical remake of West Side Story that Kushner wrote based on Arthur Laurents’ play, hits theaters on December 10.
Coming soon: Spielberg’s next film, a musical remake of West Side Story that Kushner wrote based on Arthur Laurents’ play, hits theaters on December 10
Spielberg and Kushner are also teaming up for the director’s next project, The Kidnapping of Edgaro Montaro, based on the book by David I. Kirtzer.
Dano will next be seen in director Antoine Fuqua’s The Guilty, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Ethan Hawke, arriving later this year.
He also stars as Edward Nashton, a.k.a. The Riddler, in Warner Bros.’ highly-anticipated superhero movie The Batman starring Robert Pattinson.
New role: Dano will next be seen in director Antoine Fuqua’s The Guilty, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Ethan Hawke, arriving later this year