JK Simmons will star in the ensemble comedy The Bachelors
Oscar winner JK Simmons (Whiplash, Terminator Genisys, Juno) is set to star in the ensemble comedic drama The Bachelors, it was announced today by Fortitude International’s co-founders Nadine de Barros, Robert Ogden Barnum and Daniel Wagner alongside producers Matthew Baer (Unbroken, Maggie, City By the Sea) and George Parra (upcoming Joy, The Descendants, Silver Linings Playbook).
After the loss of his wife, Bill Ponder (Simmons) and his 17-year-old son, Wes, move out of their small town into the big city in an attempt to get a fresh start. As they each begin to adjust to their new life and seek ways to heal their wounds, they both find comfort in newfound romance. As relationships are tested, Bill and Wes grow apart and back together again while discovering their true selves in the process.
Written and to be directed by Kurt Voelker (Sweet November, Park), the feature film is slated to begin principal photography in spring 2016 in Los Angeles. Jennifer Kelly serves as executive producer.
“In the same way ‘Ordinary People’ impacted a wide range of audiences, ‘The Bachelors’ will achieve an emotional resonance and mass appeal. JK is sure to deliver an amazing performance along with the other fantastic actors we’ll soon announce. Great scripts attract great talent. George has produced iconic films with two of America’s most respected writer-directors and we’re confident Kurt Voelker will be another filmmaker people pay attention to,” said Baer.
“JK Simmons blew audiences away with his intense, knock-out performance in ‘Whiplash.’ He fully commits to every character he portrays and ‘The Bachelors’ offers once again the unparalleled actor the chance to display his acting chops in this beautifully written story about a father and son relationship,” said Fortitude’s de Barros.
JK Simmons won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar this year and received critical acclaim for his performance in the global festival hit, Whiplash. He was recently seen in theatres in Paramount Pictures’ Terminator Genisys, which earned $440 million at the worldwide box office. His upcoming films include Sony Pictures Classics’ The Meddler, with Susan Sarandon, and Warner Bros.’ The Accountant, with Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick, due for release in October 2016. He is currently filming Warner Bros.’ Bastards co-starring Owen Wilson.
Kurt Voelker made his directorial debut with the comedy Park, starring William Baldwin, Ricki Lake and Cheri Oteri. The film won the Audience Award at both the Sonoma Valley Film Festival and the CineVegas Film Festival and screened at numerous festivals worldwide including Rotterdam, Sydney, São Paulo, Outfest and HBO’s US Comedy Arts Festival. His screenwriting credits include Warner Bros.’ Sweet November, starring Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron, and the animated film Rock Dog currently in production with an all-star voice cast led by Luke Wilson, JK Simmons, Sam Elliott and Matt Dillon.
(Photo credit: WENN)
