Sam Rockwell is on a hot streak amidst all of the snow at Sundance. The actor has just signed for The Eel, in which he’ll depict “an escaped convict who is ensnared in a plot by a corrupt sheriff to kidnap the young heiress to an oil fortune, complicating his quest for freedom”; this deal occurs as Rockwell zings to Park City for the premiere of Lynn Shelton new picture, Laggies sees him star with Chloe Moretz and Keira Knightley. [Deadline]
Along with Black List writer-director Roberto Bentivegna, the deal also brings Rockwell together with producers Kevin Walsh, Nax Faxon, and Jim Rash — behind last year’s Sundance hit The Way Way Back, which sold for close to 10 million dollars before premiering that summer — who are looking to form an as-yet-unnamed production company. Speaking of the deal, Walsh said, “Nat, Jim and I want to foster other directors and writers with this new company, and Roberto’s film gives Sam the role of a criminal on the run that reminded us of Drive and Cool Hand Luke.”
Do you think The Eel has potential to fulfill Rockwell’s talents?