James McAvoy will star opposite Jessica Chastain in Myriad Pictures’ double-feature film project “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him” and “The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her.”
Ned Benson wrote the two scripts and will direct both films. Shooting is set to start in July.
Myriad had announced the two-film project in February, prior to the Berlin market, with Chastain and Joel Edgerton signed on to star in a love story that explores a New York City couple’s relationship during a difficult time in their marriage from the perspectives of the restaurant-owner husband and of the wife, who goes back to college.
Each film will be a stand-alone movie. Cassandra Kulukundis is producing.
McAvoy will next be seen starring in Danny Boyle’s “Trance,” Eran Creevy’s “Welcome to the Punch” and Jon S. Baird’s “Filth.” Thesp is represented by UTA and United Agents.
Chastain stars with Shia LaBeouf and Guy Pearce in the Weinstein Co.’s “Lawless,” which screened Saturday at Cannes.
Myriad Pictures is pre-selling “Eleanor Rigby” in Cannes this week.
” ‘The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby’ represents an alternate approach to content,” said Myriad topper Kirk D’Amico. “New distribution models make it creatively possible for feature films to break out of the format of one 90-minute experience. We have to make both films work on their own, both for the buyers but also for the audiences. Together these films will describe a fully, more complete look at these characters and their lives.”
Benson wrote two Black List scripts — “In Defiance of Gravity” and “Too” — along with “Real Life With Carter Canby,” in development with Working Title Films, and “David Fingerhut’s Greatest Hits” for Michael London’s Groundswell Films. He is represented by UTA.
