Since his understated debut, Permanent Vacation in 1980, Jim Jarmusch has consistently followed a pattern of making small, unique films that most definitely don’t rely on the Hollywood formula. Although he has worked with high profile stars such as Johnny Depp and Bill Murray, his films have always had an amateurish feel. That’s not to say they lack in quality, but they are certainly very low-key and often require multiple viewings to fully understand.
With that said, when the news came out that he wanted to follow up The Limits of Control with a Vampire love story, it would be a safe bet to assume that it’s pretty much going to be the complete opposite of something like the Twilight franchise. Details have been pretty scarce on the long gestating project, it’s now been 3 years since his most recent film hit theaters, so today is a great day for anyone who has been anticipating Jarmusch‘s next feature.
THR confirms that the film, with a title reveal Only Lovers Left Alive, will still star Tilda Swinton, John Hurt and Mia Wasikowska. This marks for a re-teaming with Swinton following her roles in Broken Flowers and The Limits of Control. Michael Fassbender had previously been rumored to star as well, but his busy schedule would presumably conflict with shooting plans for this film. 2011’s break-out star Tom Hiddleston will replace the actor and from my perspective, Fassbender is preferable, but Hiddleston is talented too, after his turns in Thor, War Horse and Midnight in Paris.
Fassbender or no Fassbender, the cast is still a strong one. The story has the potential to be another bizarre and creative film for Jarmusch, and the prospect of a horror story from the auteur is certainly an enticing one. Shooting is set to start in Germany later this year, so expect a release date somewhere during 2013.
Have you been anticipating Jim Jarmusch’s new film? What do you think of the cast he has assembled?