Val Kilmer Reuniting With ‘Real Genius’ Co-Star Jon Gries For ‘Deep In The Heart’
Weight gain and squandered A-list cred be damned, I’ve never likedVal Kilmermore than I have over the past ten or so years, and it’s images like the one above that demonstrate why. After terrific turns inKiss Kiss Bang Bang,The Salton Sea,Spartanand — yes, I’m serious —MacGruber, the ex-Hollywood hunk is now returning to his ’80s roots by teaming up withReal GeniuspalJon Gries(best known as Uncle Rico inNapoleon Dynamite). The role? An imaginary ‘Christ-like figure’ who guides an alcoholic (played by Gries) to recovery. Learn more after the break.
According toThe Hollywood Reporter, the film — titledDeep in the Heart— is based on the true story of Richard Wallrath, an entrepreneur who helped put hundreds of kids through college, and is the biggest all-time individual donor to two separate youth organizations in Texas (4-H and Future Farmers of America). But the film will take place earlier, before his days as a celebrated philanthropist.
Wallrath’s journey is best summed up by co-producerScott Duthie, who explains that he was “an alcoholic who hit rock bottom and lost everything, then reinvented himself, re-established his relationships with his family and built a multimillion-dollar business”.
Kilmer, meanwhile, will star opposite Gries, playing a character known simply as “The Bearded Man”. Duthie described him as a “Christ-like figure” who resides in Wallrath’s mind, helping him on his path to recovery.
Young GunsdirectorChristopher Cainwill helm the film, which for the time being is without a release date or distributor.
So until there’s more news on that front, why not take a trip down memory lane and check out theReal Geniusclip below.
