Director Jean-Marc Vallée Gets ‘Wild’ With Reese Witherspoon And Nick Hornby
AsDallas Buyers Clubprepares for its world premiere at TIFF, directorJean-Marc Valléehas booked his next gig. He’s just signed on forWild, theNick Hornby-scripted,Reese Witherspoon-starring adaptation ofCheryl Strayed’s bestselling memoir. Hit the jump for plot details and more.
The book hit #1 on theNew York Timesbestseller list shortly after its debut in spring 2012, and became the first selection for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0. Witherspoon acquired the film rights beforeWildwas even published. She’ll play Strayed, in addition to producing.
Vallée broke through in the mid-2000s with the indie coming-of-age taleC.R.A.Z.Y., and found an even bigger audience with the royal biopicThe Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt. His last feature was 2011’sCafé de Flore.
He’s now coming off ofDallas Buyers Club, which’ll bow at TIFF next month. Matthew McConaughey leads the fact-based drama as an HIV-positive Texan who attempts to help himself and other sick people by smuggling alternative medicine into the U.S.
Witherspoon also has a big premiere coming up at TIFF, Atom Egoyan’s West Memphis Three dramaThe Devil’s Knot. She was last seen in Jeff Nichols’Mudand recently wrapped Paul Thomas Anderson’sInherent Vice.
Hornby’s last screenplay credit was for Lone Scherfig’sAn Education, and he’s set to pen an adaptation of Colm Toibin’s novelBrooklyn. In addition, there’s a movie adaptation of his bookA Long Way Downdue out next year, as well as a TV version of his novelAbout a Boy.
Wildis set up at Fox Searchlight, with production expected to get underway in late fall. No release date has been announced at this time.
