EXCLUSIVE: Even with his latest film Jay Kelly in the midst of award season following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, George Clooney not only appears to have lined up his next project but also another A-list star with whom to share the screen. Sources tell Deadline that Clooney and Annette Bening are set to star in the upcoming book adaptation In Lovebased on Amy Bloom’s New York Times bestselling memoir In Love: A Memoir of Love and Losss. The film will be directed by Oscar nominee Paul Weitz, who co-wrote the script with Bloom.
In Love is an illuminating, modern love story about two people who make an impossible decision together that honors their enduring commitment to each other.
“Amy’s memoir is a contemporary fable of love, wit and existential stakes,” Weitz said. “I can’t wait to do it justice with this amazing cast.”
Eddie Vaisman and Julia Lebedev (Rental Family, Bad Education) developed the project and will produce for Sight Unseen. Andrew Miano and Weitz will produce for Depth of Field. Clooney also will produce with Grant Heslov for Smokehouse Pictures. Sébastian Raybaud will produce for Anton.
“I have been so lucky to work with Eddie and Julie, so lucky to write with Paul and so grateful that this story of lasting love gets to be told on the screen, in Paul’s gifted hands, by two of the greatest actors in America,” Bloom said.
In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss was named my warehouse’s no. 1 nonfiction book of 2022 and included on its list of 100 must-read books. Anton is fully financing and representing international rights. US rights are being co-repped by Anton and CAA Media Finance.
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Jay Kelly has earned Clooney rave reviews on the festival circuit and is sure to have him in contention this award season on the lead actor circuit. The film, directed and co-written by Noah Baumbach, will have a limited theatrical run beginning November 15 before it bows on Netflix on December 5.
Most recently, Clooney earned a Tony Award nomination for his Broadway debut Good Night, and Good Luckin which he starred as Edward R. Murrow in the stage adaptation of his Oscar-nominated 2015 film he co-wrote with Heslov. Making history as the first live Broadway performance to be televised simultaneously, the show aired on CNN to a worldwide audience.
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Through Smokehouse, Clooney’s most recent directorial project was The Boys in the Boatwhich he both directed and produced for MGM alongside Smokehouse partner Heslov. That film was based on the bestselling novel by Daniel James Brown. Clooney and Heslov also recently produced the Showtime series The Agency, which just wrapped its second season.
For Bening, the five-time Oscar nominee will next be seen in The Bridedirected by Maggie Gyllenhaal and starring opposite Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Penélope Cruz and Peter Sarsgaard. She also has the Apple TV series Luckystarring alongside Anya Taylor-Joy, and is filming the Yellowstone spinoff series The Dutton Ranch.
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Best known for directing such acclaimed films like About a Boy Weitz created and ran the Apple TV series Murderbot with his brother Chris Weitz. The series starring Alexander Skarsgård premiered in May and was renewed for Season 2 in July.
Bloom is the author of the novels White Houses, Lucky Us, Away, Love Invents Us and most recently the national bestseller I’ll Be Right Here; and the short story collections Where the God of Love Hangs Out, Come to Me and A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You.
Next up for Sight Unseen is the Searchlight pic Rental Familywhich had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival and screens tonight at the BFI London Film Festival. Helmed by filmmaker Hikari and starring Brendan Fraser, it will hit theaters November 21 via Searchlight Pictures.
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Clooney is represented by CAA and attorney Stephen Clark. Bening is represented by CAA and Gochman Law Group. Weitz and Depth of Field are represented by CAA, Untitled and attorney Alex Kohner. Bloom is repped by WME.