I can’t tell you how much I wish a certain summer film had already been released so I could discuss the nature of Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go. However, to spoil a film I am sure many are looking forward to for the sake of a bit of casting announcement seems silly so I will remain mum as I report word out of Screen Daily that Romanek’s next film has begun principal photography in the UK and a four new names have been added to the cast.
We had previously known the film to star Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield as a trio who grew up in a boarding school with no contact or knowledge of the outside world until they discover the haunting truth about their existence. The film is an adaptation of the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro as penned by Alex Garland (28 Days Late, Sunshine). Today we learn Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky), Charlotte Rampling (The Verdict), Nathalie Richard (Cache) and Andrea Riseborough (Happy-Go-Lucky) have joined the cast as well but there are no additional details on their characters.
Fox Searchlight will distribute the film which will mark the first film for Romanek since One Hour Photo in 2002, although not for a lack of trying as Romanek was first expected to helm the comedy In Deep for DreamWorks and Red Hour with Ben Stiller set to star and then he bounced out of this November’s The Wolfman remake based on the classic 1941 monster movie citing creative differences. But it seems Never Let Me Go is a sure thing.
“We are delighted to be shooting this special project, which Alex Garland first brought to us before the book’s publication in 2005,” producers Andrew Macdonald and Andrew Reich told Screen Daily. “We could not be happier to have assembled such a remarkable cast and crew for this extraordinary story.”
“From the moment I finished the novel, it became my dream to film it,” Romanek said. “Ishiguro’s conception is so daring, so eerie and beautiful. Alex Garland’s adaptation is sensitive and precise. The cast is perfect, the crew superb.”
Those that haven’t seen Romanek’s One Hour Photo, a decent film but not great in my opinion, may also recognize him for his music video work including “Closer” for Nine Inch Nails, “Criminal” for Fiona Apple, “Hurt” for Johnny Cash and “Bedtime Story” for Madonna, which is the reason I included the video above.
Thanks to In Contention for the head’s up on the story.
