After multiple Oscar nods for Precious, Lee Daniels has had a difficult time getting his next project off the ground. With his MLK drama Selma falling apart and other films like The Butler and Anna in the Tropics not coming together yet, he has finally started production on the “sexual thriller” The Paperboy.
Based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Pete Dexter (whose novel Deadwood inspired the HBO series), it follows Jack, the son of a Florida publisher who gets involved with his older brother journalist’s investigation of a murdered sheriff. He ends up investigating whether or not the man currently on death row for committing the crime is in fact guilty.
After cast originally rumored to include Bradley Cooper, Alex Pettyfer, and Tobey Maguire among others, it has been locked down to include Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, John Cusack, and David Oyelowo. We have our first look at the former three from DailyMail and you can see them above and below with the rest at the link.
The Paperboy will likely see a 2012 release.