Joshua Leonard Joins 'Motel Life' With Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch & Stephen Dorff

by Kevin Jagernauth
February 28, 2011 6:35 AM
2 Comments

EXCLUSIVE: The rooms at "The Motel Life" are getting a little more full as reps for indie actor Joshua Leonard ("Humpday," "Bitter Feast") have confirmed to the The Playlist that he has joined the film.

Leonard joins a cast that currently includes Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch and Stephen Dorff in the thriller based on the novel by Willy Vlautin about two brothers who, following a fatal hit-and-run accident, flee their Reno motel room. Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster penned the screenplay with Alan and Gabriel Polsky directing. Production on the film is already underway.

Leonard is off to a hot start in 2011; he just returned from the Sundance Film Festival where he unveiled his feature directorial debut "The Lie." The film follows a man who's stuck working at an unfulfilling job, while he dreams of a career as a musician. Unable to take another day at work he tells a lie that changes everything. We're told that a distribution deal for the film is just around the corner. Leonard also stars in Vera Farmiga's directorial debut "Higher Ground" which also took a bow at Sundance as well. So big things and a busy year ahead for the actor/director-on-the-rise.

More: Actors, Films, The Motel Life, Joshua Leonard

2 Comments

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Tim Parker | February 28, 2011 8:15 AMReply

Just an update on my comment...I'm commenting on/reating to the movie's description in this article--described as a "thriller". The novel is more gritty realism with some humor. Thriller does not come to mind at all.
Tim Parker | February 28, 2011 8:13 AMReply

I don't know anything about this screenplay adaptation, but I read the novel and it is not a thriller.