Number 9 Films is announcing from out of the ongoing Cannes Film Festival that they’ve confirmed Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett and Alice in Wonderland star Mia Wasikowska to headline their adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novella “The Price of Salt” into a film called Carol, directed by John Crowley (Intermission, Boy A).
Adapted by Phyllis Nagy, the story of a lesbian romance in the ’50s written by Highsmith (under the pseudonym Claire Morgan), is being produced by Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley at Number 9 Films along with Film4 with filming scheduled to start in London and New York starting February 2013.
The rather unprecedented homosexual love story–for the time in which it was written–follows the relationship between two very different women in 1950s New York, a 20-year-old girl working at a department store and a rich wife trapped in a bad marriage trying to break free.
In the press release, Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley of Number 9 Films stated:
“We are thrilled to be working with Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska, two of the most talented actors working today, in this striking adaptation of one of the twentieth century’s most iconic writers, Patricia Highsmith. To be re-united with highly talented individuals, director John Crowley and writer Phylis Nagy is a testament to the quality of the project. We are delighted to have such a gifted team on board.”
Tess Ross of Film4 added:
“Carol is a beautiful and heart-breaking story and it’s a testament to the talents of Phyllis and John that we’ve attracted actresses of Cate and Mia’s calibre to star at the heart of it. We are delighted to be working with Liz and Stephen at Number 9 to help put together what promises to be a truly wonderful film.”
Hanway Films will be handling sales of the film out of Cannes.
(Photo source: Agostino Fabio and Brian To/WENN.com)
