Gaspard Ulliel (“Yves Saint Laurent) and Melanie Thierry (“The Zero Theorem”) have joined the cast of “The Dancer,” the 19th-set directorial debut of Stephanie Di Giusto, an unconventional biopic of American dancer Loie Fuller.
Musician-turned-thesp Soko will play Fuller, a dancer born in rural America who was deemed ungraceful and awkward at a young age, but nevertheless succeeded in becoming a worldwide ballet star who invented Serpentine Dance at the turn of the 20th century.
The movie, which is penned by Di Giusto, Thomas Bidegain (“The Cowboys”) and Sarah Thiebaud, will chronicle Fuller’s encounter with Isadora Duncan, a fame-seeking young prodigy who propelled her downfall. Duncan will be played by an up-and-coming American actress whose casting will soon be announced.
Alain Attal, who is producing via his outfit Les Productions du Tresor, said Di Giusto is a talented video artist who will give the project a unique visual identity. Vincent Maraval, Wild Bunch’s co-founder, is co-producing, along with Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s Les Films du Fleuve, and Artemio Benki for Sirena Films.
Francois Damiens (“Heartbreaker”) and Louis-Do du Lencquesaing (“Taj Mahal”) complete the cast of “The Dancer.”
Ulliel has just finished shooting Xavier Dolan’s “It’s Only the End of the World” opposite Marion Cotillard, Lea Seydoux and Vincent Cassel.
Lensing of “The Dancer” will begin Sept. 28.
