Rachel Weisz Joins David Cronenberg's 'Maps To The Stars' With Robert Pattinson & Viggo Mortensen

News

by Kevin Jagernauth
November 7, 2012 2:26 PM
21 Comments

Brewing since 2006, not much has really been known about David Cronenberg's "Map to the Stars." In May he described it as, "very extreme. It's not obviously a very big commercial movie, and even as an independent film it's difficult. 'Maps to the Stars' is completely different [from 'Cosmopolis'], but it's very acerbic and satirical, it's a hard sell." But Cronenberg has made a career out of mounting one "hard sell" picture after another, and thanks to three major stars on board, this one looks like it's getting made.

Allocine (via The Film Stage) reveals that Rachel Weisz has joined Robert Pattinson and the now-confirmed Viggo Mortensen in the upcoming film. Penned by Bruce Wagner, Cronenberg previously explained: "You could say it's a Hollywood film because the characters are agents, actors and managers, but it is not a satire like 'The Player.' Hollywood is a world that is seductive and repellent at the same time, and it is the combination of the two that makes it so potent. I won't fall back on some clichés or simplistic sloganeering, because the culture and what it reveals about Western culture and the rest of the world is very complex."

The movie, oddly enough, will be his first picture shot on U.S. soil, with the filmmaker revealing earlier this year that it will lens in Los Angeles. No word yet on the roles the trio will play, but this one appears to be moving along nicely. Plans are underway for production to begin in May all on a budget of $15 million.

It will be interesting to see how the methodical Mortensen and young upstart Pattinson work together, and Weisz is always a treat. As usual with Cronenberg, we're curious to see what he brings to the big screen next.

News

More: Rachel Weisz, Map To The Stars

21 Comments

| Reply
Angela | January 5, 2013 1:31 AMReply

Ugh...Pattinson sucks!! One more year, and this kid will finally fade into obsurity. How many more flops do we have to endure.
Last Word | November 9, 2012 7:55 PMReply

Wouldn't it be a great if people greeted the announcement of positive developments in a piece of art in the making with optimism and an open mind?
dan | November 9, 2012 9:32 PM

agreed.
Vince | November 8, 2012 6:55 PMReply

Very excited to see how this develops. Looks like a great cast is shaping up and Cronenberg will always get my vote. His lesser films are the stuff other filmmakers can only dream of. Who gives a crap about box office stats? Unless, of course, you're an accountant.
Kanerwa | November 8, 2012 6:16 AMReply

In The Wall Street Journal is the review of Dead Stars the novel wrote by Bruce Wagner.This book is based on Map To The Stars script.Rachel is probably playing Robert's mother.Rob is supposed to play a paparazzo.Quote from the article:,,Jerzy is also a photographer,a full time paparazzo whose speciality is lying in curb to take revealing pictures of young actresses as they step out of cars.'' If it's true,he gonna see what is meens to be on the other side of the papz camera.
Eithan | November 8, 2012 4:26 AMReply

1. I love David Cronenberg, but his last 2 outings ("Cosmopolis" and "A Dangerous Method") were extremely boring. This one sounds more interesting.
2. So if this lenses in 2013, and Charlie Kaufman's "Frank or Francis" will also find the money, we'll have 2 movies ridiculing Hollywood in 2014.
3. Either way, there's already an heir. Check out Brandon Cronenberg's "AntiViral". It is a sick film (in more than one meaning) but in a good way. Slightly reminicent of his father's earlier work.
com | November 8, 2012 12:17 AMReply

yes, cosmopolis flopped and i blame bad marketing not the actor..for one thing why release the movie during the summer blockbuster season? and we all know that in this period, most people watch film bec of the story not for the actor
Bradley | November 7, 2012 8:17 PMReply

- I Don't Understand - is about right. Pattinson's work in Cosmopolis was revelatory. Has it ever occurred to you that if scores of critics - who know a thing or two about film, not to mention Giamatti and Cronenberg - were freaking out about how good Pattinson was, maybe it's you that needs to revise your armchair opinion?

Now that's off my chest. Really pleased about Weisz and looking forward to seeing how this pans out.
Alex | November 7, 2012 7:44 PMReply

Great actress, probably the best we have working right now. She would be the only reason I would see this film.
I don't understand | November 7, 2012 3:46 PMReply

I am a David Cronenberg fan, but, recently, he is losing it. I didn't care for Cosmopolis, and his dire need to continue to have , the painfully wooden and horribly acting Robert Pattinson ( he always looks distractingly awkward and scared in his movies and his interviews ) in all his movies. Trust me, I can watch a marathon of unbearable Keanu Reeves flicks, before I watch one Pattinson movie.
Major Tom | November 9, 2012 7:52 PM

Clearly, Sam - and I say with infinite patience - Cronenberg DOES think Pattinson has talent. I should imagine he thinks that about all the actors he handpicks unless he's a complete imbecile. So maybe that's the question I should ask you - do you think David Cronenberg, renowned auteur, writer and visionary - is a fucking imbecile?
Kanerwa | November 8, 2012 5:32 AM

You did't see any of his interviews if you're talking that he's awkward or scared, it's totally BS.Watch him on Jimmy Kimmel show when he was promoting Water For Elephants,Cosmopolis(especially this one),BD1 and BD2.It's funny 'cause Cronenberg said that he saw not only Rob's movies when he casted him in Cosmo,but also his interviews on you tube,to know what kind of person he is.
Major Tom | November 7, 2012 9:04 PM

Surely that tells you something then. Sam. If Cronenberg doesn't give a fuck about recoup, but actually cares about - get this - the ART he's making, that's your reason right there why he's working with Pattinson - and the rest. Why do you care how much a film makes? The profits ain't hitting your account. Try to understand that great artists - which is what DC is - do not get bent out of shape about box office, especially at his stage of the game.
Sam | November 7, 2012 8:45 PM

Correction to my post. The movie has lost at least 15 million not 30. I got the numbers confused. It still needs to make more than 30 million to break even and there's no way that's happening. I'm surprised this new movie got financing since it's proven that Pattinson doesn't bring in the box office numbers and his previous Cronenberg collaboration was a total flop.
Sam | November 7, 2012 8:11 PM

I have to say I'm in total agreement with you. Why is David picking him again because it's obviously not for acting talent or box office results. I just looked up the budget for Cosmopolis and it was 20 million, thus needing double that to break even. The movie hasn't even hit 10 million worldwide so it lost at least over 30 million dollars. Sad to say, Cronenberg has completely lost me with picking this kid for his last 2 movies.
David | November 7, 2012 4:11 PM

He's a good actor. Very very good in Cosmopolis. In fact, he blew my mind. Much more going on behind the eyes than Keanu Reeves. I think your being a little hard on him because of Twilight. He's been a solid actor since Remember Me, and Water for Elephants. Trust me, he's a good actor.
Tom | November 7, 2012 2:56 PMReply

YES! More Cronenberg plz.
peter | November 7, 2012 2:56 PMReply

This is great news
RNL | November 7, 2012 2:52 PMReply

Is his TV series "Knifeman" still happening?
Carol | November 7, 2012 2:48 PMReply

Omg, I cant wait, it will be great movie!!!
d | November 7, 2012 2:32 PMReply

Awesome.