Sofia Coppola

[wilder]

Sofia Coppola Exits 'The Little Mermaid’
via The Playlist

In a way, it seemed almost too good to be true. When Universal couldn't secure Joe Wright to direct their long brewing, live action take on "The Little Mermaid," they snagged Sofia Coppola. And it was a potentially promising endeavor, with Coppola making her first big studio picture, doing something unlike anything she's done before. But alas, it won't happen.

Deadline reports that Coppola has exited the movie over, you guessed it, "creative differences." The movie has had a few different pens on it so far, with Abi Morgan ("Shame") and Kelly Marcel ("Fifty Shades Of Grey") previous tackling it, and Caroline Thompson's ("Edward Scissorhands," "The Nightmare Before Christmas") rewrite looking like the one that will stick. But even with Coppola's departure, the project isn't dead, with Universal apparently pushing forward, but no word yet on who they are eyeballing for the gig.

[jenkins]

[wilder]

Sofia Coppola Directing ‘The Beguiled’ With Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning
via The Playlist

We’re going to have to chalk this up to an unconfirmed rumor for the moment, but a) this is terrifically exciting if it’s true, b) we recently posted are own corroboration that points to its validity. Earlier this month we spoke to Kirsten Dunst on the “Midnight Special” press tour and the actress said she would not only reteam with her “The Virgin Suicides” and “Marie Antoinette” director Sofia Coppola, but that she would shoot a new Coppola movie this year.

Coppola’s last project was “The Little Mermaid,” one that she eventually left due to creative differences with the studio and no follow-up project was announced. It seems Dunst may have been hinting at tonight’s news? The Tracking Board reports that Coppola is making “The Beguiled,” a remake of the 1971 Don Siegel Civil War-set romance starring Clint Eastwood about a Union soldier who cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts of a Confederate girls boarding school.

It gets better. Coppola apparently has Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning lined-up to star. The story will apparently be a new take on the premise of the original film which is based on the Southern Gothic novel by Thomas P. Cullinan. A Good Reads synopsis describes the book not dissimilar to the movie’s logline: “A wounded Union soldier is taken into a Southern girls' academy, and his presence sets in motion a tragedy of jealousy, hate and lust.”

Producers are evidently eyeing a Chris Pratt-like male lead for the Clint Eastwood role. Kidman will play the Head Mistress of the school, Dunst a teacher and Fanning, who starred in Coppola’s “Somewhere,” will reportedly take on the role of one of the girls residing at the house.

[wilder]

Sofia Coppola And Bill Murray To Reteam For ‘On The Rocks’, Apple & A24’s First Film
via Deadline

Sofia Coppola will direct Bill Murray again after their Oscar-winning 2003 film Lost in Translation in the upcoming feature On the Rocks, which marks Apple and A24’s first film partnership.

The movie follows a young mother who reconnects with her larger than life playboy father on an adventure through New York.  Rashida Jones will star with Murray. Production starts this spring in New York. Coppola won an original screenwriting Oscar for Lost in Translation and was nominated for best director. Murray nabbed a best actor Oscar nom, and the movie earned a best picture nom. Coppola also directed Murray in the 2015 Netflix holiday special A Very Murray Christmas.

Coppola will produce with Youree Henley. A24 previously worked with Coppola on The Bling Ring. She is repped by ICM and attorney Barry Hirsch. Murray is repped by Ziffren Brittenham. Jones is represented by United Talent Agency and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham.

Coppola made history at the 70th Cannes Film Festival as the second woman ever in the event to win best director for her remake of The Beguiled.

A24 and Apple announced a multi-year feature slate deal back in November.

[wilder]

Yesterday Sofia Coppola had an hour long conversation with Annette Insdorf, author of Double Lives, Second Chances: The Cinema of Krzystzof Kieslowski and several other books on film

[wilberfan]

Didn't know Sofia had her own thread here.  I stumbled upon a 2-part "Directors Series" about her recently.  (Cameron's series on PTA was excellent.)

https://vimeo.com/359668714
https://vimeo.com/408947030