Since his 2005 debut, “Thank You For Smoking,” director Jason Reitman ( “Up In the Air,” “Juno“) has been releasing a film, almost like clockwork, every two years. The next one, written by Diablo Cody, who obviously wrote “Juno,” is essentially complete and stars Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson and Elizabeth Reaser.
A “new” synopsis has been released and frankly, considering all the news already out there and our in-depth look at the script, none of this is really new at all, but hey, it’s been a long time since we’ve discussed Reitman, so why not.
What is clever about the image released is that underneath the clapboard it features “Waverly Prep” books by Jane MacMurray, who is essentially the pseudonym for Mavis Gary, the main character in the film (played by Charlize Theron) who writes young adult novels for teens (hence the name of the film).
As we said in our non-spoiler-ish review of the screenplay, it’s Diablo Cody’s darkest, most unapologetic and most mature date to work and Theron plays quite the ugly character. And it sounds like Reitman has stuck to the script in that sense. “It’s not in a charming ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ kind of way but in a ‘Greenberg’ or ‘Rachel Getting Married’ kind of way,” Reitman said describing the tone of the film earlier this year. “We had a screening of it recently and a girl in the focus group said, ‘I don’t know why Jason Reitman wants me to feel this way.’ So get ready for that fun! But don’t worry, ‘Juno’ is on DVD. You can always watch that afterward and feel good again.”
Well put. Glad he’s not softening the edges of this one because the script is rather great. Regardless, having not spoiled too much so far, here’s the synopsis.
“YOUNG ADULT”
Paramount Pictures and Mandate Pictures Present
A Mr. Mudd Production
In Association with Right of Way Films and Denver & Delilah Films
A Film by Jason Reitman
“Young Adult”
Executive Producers Nathan Kahane, John Malkovich, Steven Rales, Helen Estabrook
Produced by Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith,
Diablo Cody, Mason Novick, Jason Reitman
Written by Diablo Cody
Directed by Jason ReitmanCast: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser
Synopsis: Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron plays Mavis Gary, a writer of teen literature who returns to her small hometown to relive her glory days and attempt to reclaim her happily married high school sweetheart (Patrick Wilson). When returning home proves more difficult than she thought, Mavis forms an unusual bond with a former classmate (Patton Oswalt) who hasn’t quite gotten over high school, either.
“Young Adult” reunites Jason Reitman, Academy Award© nominated director of “Juno,” and Academy Award© winning screenwriter, Diablo Cody.
OK, maybe Elizabeth Reaser being in the picture is new-ish. And or this writer just never retained this information when it was first announced. We would assume, having read the script, that she’ll be playing Wilson’s wife in the film (she definitely fits the description). Reitman regular J.K. Simmons is reportedly narrating the film (odd, we don’t remember much narration on the page) and like most Reitman films this will almost certainly debut at the Toronto International Film Festival this fall and then come out, we guess, late fall near November or December, much like “Up In the Air” did.
[via /Film]
