The Hollywood Reporter has broke the news that John Goodman has joined the cast of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close based off the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. The story centers around a ten year old boy named Oskar whose father dies in the September 11th attacks in New York. Struck with grief, Oskar finds a key to a lock box his father had and searches all through the city to find its location and any information pertaining to it. While on this quest, he runs into a bevy of characters who are all still dealing with post-9/11 trauma.
Goodman, who recently wrapped up Kevin Smith‘s Sundance-bound Red State, will be inhabiting the role of a doorman at the apartment complex Oskar lives in, which sounds minor but according to the article, he is involved in a key part (exhuming Oskar’s dad’s coffin).
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close also stars Tom Hanks as Oskar’s father. Sandra Bullock is also signed on, but her role was unspecified (Oskar’s mother maybe?). The main role of Oskar will be played by newcomer Thomas Horn. The script was written by Eric Roth and will be directed by Stephen Daldry. The word on the street is they are looking to start production soon in order to get the movie out in time for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks (or at least that’s how I read it).
I don’t have much to say on Goodman’s casting, other than he is an excellent actor and I love it when he gets work. Otherwise, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close sounds like it’s going to both break my heart then piece it back together with use of my tears as glue. What a heavy, heavy premise.
Has anyone read the book this movie is based on by chance? If so, what should we as a movie-going audience expect when Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close finally comes out?