Kevin Spacey is set to co-star with Nicholas Hoult in the Black Label Media pic “Rebel in the Rye,” which revolves around the life of author J.D. Salinger.
Danny Strong is writing and directing the pic.
Based on the Kenneth Slawenski biography “J.D. Salinger: A Life,” the story follows Salinger as he prepares to write his classic novel “Catcher in the Rye.” Spacey will play Whit Burnett, a professor at Columbia and editor of Story Magazine. He became a mentor and was the first to challenge the young Salinger, inspiring him to grow as a storyteller.
Black Label Media is financing and Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill are producing alongside Bruce Cohen, Jason Shuman and Strong. BLOOM began selling foreign rights at Toronto and CAA is repping North American rights.
Spacey can be seen next in the fourth season of “House of Cards,” which premieres March 4 on Netflix. He can also be seen playing Richard Nixon in the Liza Johnson-directed “Elvis & Nixon.” He’s currently filming “Billionaire Boys Club” and “Baby Driver,” both of which star Ansel Elgort. Spacey is repped by CAA and Joanne Horowitz.
The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
