‘Outlaw King’, ‘Terminator’ to open and close Toronto film fest

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Thompson eyes lead role in ‘Lady and the Tramp’

LOS ANGELES, Aug 15, (RTRS): “Outlaw King”, a biopic about Scottish hero Robert the Bruce, and “Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy”, a look at an infamous literary fabulist, will both screen at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

The “Hell or High Water” team of director David MacKenzie and Chris Pine reunite for “Outlaw King”, which will be the opening night gala presentation. It’s being billed as a David-versus-Goliath story, one that chronicles the Bruce’s transformation from defeated nobleman to defiant freedom fighter.

“Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy” stars Laura Dern as an author who adopts a fictitious persona of JT LeRoy. After her book tops the best-seller list and JT LeRoy becomes an object of fixation among the literary set, she’s forced to come to terms with the consequences of her creative nom-de-plume. Kristen Stewart co-stars in the film. “Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy” will be the festival’s closing night offering.

Lineup

In addition, Toronto unveiled 100 more features and short films that will screen as part of its lineup. They include such notable additions as Joel Edgerton’s “Boy Erased”, a drama about conversion therapy that stars Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Lucas Hedges; Sam Taylor-Johnson’s “A Million Little Pieces”, an adaptation of James Frey’s controversial and factually challenged memoir of the same name; and Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s “Never Look Away”, the German director’s attempt to wash off the stink left over from the debacle that was “The Tourist”.

Actor and comedian Jonah Hill’s directorial debut “Mid90s” has earned a berth at the festival, as has “Teen Spirit”, which marks the first time behind the camera for Max Minghella, son of “The English Patient” director Anthony Minghella.

“Outlaw King” also stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, and Billy Howle. Netflix backed the film. Its inclusion is notable because the streaming service was shunned by Cannes, which barred its films from competition because they largely forgo theaters. The company is being welcomed by Toronto – Netflix will release seven films at the gathering, including Paul Greengrass’ “July 22” and Nicole Holofcener’s “The Land of Steady Habits”.

Justin Kelly directs “Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy” and the film also features Diane Kruger, Jim Sturgess, Kelvin Harrison Jr, and Courtney Love.

The festival runs from Sept 6-16. Toronto, know as TIFF around the industry, has previously unveiled much of its slate. The list of Oscar contenders making the trek to Canada includes Bradley Cooper’s “A Star is Born”, Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” and Damien Chazelle’s “First Man”. The gathering is seen as a critical awards season stop. Oscar darlings such as “Gravity”, “The Shape of Water” and “Moonlight” have all bolstered their plaudits chances by premiering up north.

Also:

LOS ANGELES: The trailer for Avi Nesher’s “The Other Story” has been released after it was announced Tuesday that the film will world premiere in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the Toronto Film Festival.

The screenplay was co-written by Nesher and Noam Shpancer, the clinical psychologist and novelist. It is based on a true story. It centers on two rebellious young women, one fleeing the chaos of secular hedonism for the disciplined comforts of religion; the other desperate to escape her oppressive religious upbringing and embrace spiritual freedom.

“Both women must confront the tension between self-assertion and tribal affiliation as they negotiate dueling fundamental human desires: to be, and to belong,” Nesher said in a statement.

The film stars Tribeca Film Festival best actress award winner Joy Rieger, and European Academy best actor award winner Sasson Gabai.

Each of Nesher’s most recent four features – “The Secrets”, “The Matchmaker”, “The Wonders” and “Past Life” – had its world premiere at Toronto.

LOS ANGELES: Tessa Thompson is in negotiations to voice the title role in Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Lady and the Tramp”.

Justin Theroux will voice the Tramp. Kiersey Clemons is also on board.

Majority of the cast will play CGI characters, similar to Disney’s wildly successful adaptations of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Jungle Book”. “Lady and the Tramp” tells the story of an American Cocker Spaniel named Lady who lives with a upper-middle-class family, but is set astray when the family has a baby. Lady ends up meeting a mongrel known as the Tramp on the streets. They embark on a romantic journey and eventually fall in love.

“The Lego Ninjago Movie” filmmaker Charlie Bean is directing the remake. It is expected to debut on Disney’s upcoming digital streaming service, which launches in 2019. Andrew Bujalski wrote the script, Jessica Virtue and Chaz Salembier are overseeing for Disney.

Thompson previously starred opposite Chris Hemsworth in Disney-Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok”. She was most recently in “Sorry to Bother You” and the HBO series “Westworld”. Thompson can be seen next in “Creed 2”. She is also re-teaming with Hemsworth in the new “Men in Black” spin-off.

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