Originally slated to begin shooting this summer, the Glenn Close passion project “Albert Nobbs” — in which she is starring, producing and has co-written — is finally gearing up to go in front of cameras in the next week or so, and it appears the delay has caused some minor shifts in casting.
A rep for Aaron Johnson (“Kick-Ass,” “Nowhere Boy“) has confirmed an online report that says the actor has joined the film. He joins the cast which currently includes Close, Mia Wasikowska and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in a “Gosford Park“-style “below stairs” drama about a woman (Close) in 19th Century Ireland who disguises herself as a man in order to survive.” The story definitely has some heavyweight talent behind it as it was co-written by Man Booker prize-winning author John Banville and based on a short story by Irish author George Moore.
With Johnson joining the cast, it now appears that Orlando Bloom is out of the project. We would imagine that the shifting schedule has affected his participation in the project as well (Wasikowska replaced Amanda Seyfried just recently). The film is being directed by Rodrigo Garcia (”Mother And Child”) with shooting set to take place in and around Dublin. There are no distributors lined up just yet, but the picture seems an easy candidate to debut at Venice or TIFF in 2011.
