After crafting a series of stellar small-scale dramas, Ramin Bahrani didn’t exactly jump to the next Hollywood blockbuster, but he stepped up his scope and star power with this year’s At Any Price. A midwest farming drama that dealt with familial ties, the Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid-led effort left a bit to be desired, but thankfully the director is back at work, prepping his follow-up.
We learned earlier this summer that Andrew Garfield would lead 99 Homes, written and directed by Bahrani, which follows our lead as a man whose home is lost in a foreclosure, but is soon able to attain financial solace employed under the real estate broker responsible for this original loss. THR now lets us know that the talented Michael Shannon, coming off his villainous turn in Man of Steel, will play the broker.
He’ll figure into the story as moral conflicts ensue when our protagonist is not only charged with evicting others, but asked to assist his boss in an embezzling scam — the bank account soars as the moral compass goes astray, etc. While there’s no production timetable yet, hopefully we’ll see this one on the festival circuit around a year from now.
Are you looking forward to Shannon and Garfield teaming for Bahrani’s next film?