This time last year, I thought that Jason Reitman‘s next film would be Labor Day, an adaptation of the novel by Joyce Maynard. This general thought was the result of him talking about it since Up in the Air came out two years ago; the project has been in various stages for a long time, you see. However, because I don’t really keep up with the director, I was surprised to learn that he would actually be bringing us Young Adult this year, starring Charlize Theron and Patrick Wilson. (The other film sounded more interesting to me, so there was also a tinge of disappointment in this reveal.)

We’ll get Labor Day; it’ll just be two years later than I expected. As revealed by Deadline, Paramount will be distributing the drama, which has Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet starring. Shooting on the film will begin in June, and although a release hasn’t been announced yet, it isn’t too crazy to think that this will hit in late 2013. The end of a year, two years after his last film came out — that’s Reitman‘s thing.

Being a general fan of his directorial output (sans Up in the Air), my interest is naturally piqued by this development. This feeling is only increased by the plot description — “an escaped convict (Brolin) [...] seeks shelter with a single mom (Winslet) and her young son over a long Labor Day weekend” — which sounds darker than his past material. Sure, he’s taken heavy issues like smoking, teen pregnancy, and the economy and made them light, but this feels more personal; it’s good to see him go in a slightly different direction.

Read the press release below:

HOLLYWOOD, CA (September 9, 2011) – Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush jointly announced today they will co-produce, and Paramount will distribute, Academy Award®-nominated writer / director Jason Reitman’s LABOR DAY starring Academy Award®-winner Kate Winslet and Academy Award® nominee Josh Brolin. Indian Paintbrush will co-finance the project, with the company’s Steven Rales and Mark Roybal executive producing.

The movie will be produced by Academy Award®-nominated producers Lianne Halfon and Russell Smith of Mr. Mudd Productions, along with Reitman and Helen Estabrook of Right of Way Films.

Adapted by Reitman and based on the novel by Joyce Maynard, LABOR DAY tells the story of an escaped convict (Brolin) who seeks shelter with a single mom (Winslet) and her young son over a long Labor Day weekend.

The film marks the fourth collaboration for Jason Reitman and Paramount. His latest film “Young Adult,” starring Charlize Theron, will hit theaters on December 9, 2011. The studio previously released his Academy-Award® nominated “Up in the Air”in 2010. Earning over $160 million world-wide, the movie earned six Academy-Award® nominations, and five Golden Globe nominations, with Reitman taking home the Golden Globe for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Indian Paintbrush, Mr. Mudd and Right of Way Films also produced the upcoming Paramount Vantage film “Jeff, Who Lives At Home,” starring Jason Segel and Ed Helms. Directed by Jay and Mark Duplass, the movie is set for release in March 2012 and will have its world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin are repped at CAA. WME reps Jason Reitman and Mr. Mudd.

Does this sound like a good project for Reitman to tackle? Have you read the book this is based on?