While we had to wait seven years for Alexander Payne to return to theaters with a new drama, The Descendants made us realize just how much we missed the director. Thankfully the wait won’t be nearly as long for his next, as production is gearing up for a fall shoot. For Nebraska, we know Bruce Dern and MacGruber himself Will Forte will lead the black-and-white film as father and son, but now the rest of the cast is starting to fill out.
Although over 20 speaking parts are still left to fill, two major additions have come aboard as Breaking Bad star and funnyman Bob Odenkirk has joined the ensemble as Dern’s son and Forte’s older brother, while Stacy Keach, who last showed up in The Bourne Legacy, has been cast as old colleague. Payne is also reportedly circling his About Schmidt actress June Squibb for another role, but that deal is not locked yet. As we already known, Dern will play a curmudgeonly old drunk who believes he’s won a million dollars from a sweepstakes and drags his son on a roadtrip to collect the prize.
With Payne setting up shop in Norfolk, Nebraska, casting for the remaining roles will likely be going to locals as they held an open call, which resulted in nearly 4,000 entries. The film will mark a return to the director’s home state after filming Citizen Ruth, Election and Schmidt there over a decade ago. Check out a video below from a local news station for more information regarding the production. [Omaha/KTIV]
The $13 million drama kicks off in — wait for it — Nebraska on October 15th.
Are you excited for Payne to deliver another film relatively soon? What do you think of the cast?