With a release date date finally set for December 20th, it’s now time to get our first official look at Bennett Miller‘s Foxcatcher. Instead of showcasing Channing Tatum off the bat, the debut image, above, gives us a look at Steve Carell, playing millionaire and schizophrenic John du Pont (Carell), who builds a wrestling training facility on his estate (called Team Foxcatcher). Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, the true story sees Carell’s character murder Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler and longtime friend David Schultz (Mark Ruffalo).
Speaking with EW, the Moneyball director, who gave another comedic actor his drama break-out with Jonah Hill, says, “We just had our first test [screening], and not everybody recognized Steve. He is aged [for the film], and his face is changed, and his physicality changed. If I say I’m going to make a movie about a guy who’s a schizophrenic murderer, there are probably a dozen actors who would immediately appear on anybody’s casting list. And Steve would not be on any of those lists. And that’s a good thing. Because it’s unexpected… John DuPont was a character who nobody thought was capable of doing something as horrible as he did. And I did not want to cast somebody who would feel dangerous in that way.”
Also starring Sienna Miller, Vanessa Redgrave and Anthony Michael Hall, expect a trailer for the film soon.
What do you think of our first look at Carell?