Jason Segel To Play David Foster Wallace In James Ponsoldt’s ‘The End Of The Tour’
I’m as big a fan of actorJason Segeland writerDavid Foster Wallaceas anyone in this world. But are they two great tastes that taste great together, as the Reese’s slogan goes, or are they better kept separate? We’ll find out whenJames Ponsoldt’sThe End of the Tourgets underway.
Segel is attached to play theInfinite Jestauthor in the fact-based project, which also starsJesse Eisenbergas the journalist writing an article about him. Get plot details and more after the jump.
Eisenberg will play Lipsky in the movie. PlaywrightDonald Margulieswrote the script, which according toTheWrapdepicts Lipsky and Wallace discussing “women, depression and the pros and cons of fame” as feelings of jealousy and competition develop between them. Production is expected to get underway in February or March.
As far as I can tell, Segel will be the first actor ever to play Wallace in a fictionalized work. However, he won’t be the writer’s first brush with the movie biz. In 2009, John Krasinski made his directorial debut with an adaptation of Wallace’s short story collectionBrief Interviews With Hideous Men.
As a comedy star, Segel isn’t an immediately obvious choice to play a troubled writer like Wallace. But he’s shown more dramatic chops inJeff, Who Lives at HomeandFreaks & Geeks, and Ponsoldt’s got a way of drawing excellent performances from his actors, as most recently demonstrated withThe Spectacular Now.
Segel last starred inThe Five-Year Engagementand had a small part in his buddy Seth Rogen’sThis Is the Endover the summer. He recently wrapped the comedySex Tape, which reunites him with hisBad Teacherdirector Jake Kasdan and co-star Cameron Diaz.
Eisenberg is coming off of the hit thrillerNow You See Me. His 2014 releases include Kelly Reichardt’sNight Moves, Richard Ayoade’sThe Double, andRio 2. Additionally, he’s set to re-team with hisAdventurelandco-star Kristen Stewart for the comedyAmerican Ultra, which shoots in April.
Discuss:If you’re unfamiliar with the works of Wallace, there’s plenty of his work to be found online. May I suggest his essays onthe porn industry,the Maine Lobster Festival, ortennis star Roger Federer, or his inspiring2005 Kenyon College commencement speech?
