Naomi Watts & Bill Murray To Topline Dramedy ‘The Friend’ From Scott McGehee & David Siegel; Constance Wu, Ann Dowd Among Others Set
26.02.2024 - 19:49
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: Following their work together on Ted Melfi’s acclaimed coming-of-age drama St. Vincent, Naomi Watts (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans) and Bill Murray (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) have been set to topline The Friend, an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s New York Times bestselling novel, from writer-directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel (Montana Story).
Others set to star in the indie include Sarah Pidgeon (Tiny Beautiful Things), Golden Globe nominee Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians), Emmy winner Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Noma Dumezweni (The Watcher).
Winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction, The Friend follows a New York writer in the aftermath of her lifelong friend and mentor’s unexpected death. Thereafter, she’s left to deal with his complicated literary legacy, three eccentric ex-wives — and a massive, brokenhearted Great Dane named Apollo.
Currently in production on the film in New York, Siegel & McGehee are producing through their new company Big Creek Projects. Also producing under her 3dot Productions banner(The Lost City, Anatomy of a Scandal), after collaborating with Watts on Showtime limited series The Loudest Voice, is Liza Chasin. Watts also serves as an exec producer on the film, alongside Mike Spreter for Big Creek and Margaret Chernin for 3dot Productions. CAA Media Finance is representing the film’s domestic rights.
Currently, Watts can be seen playing socialite Babe Paley in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, the latest season of Ryan Murphy’s acclaimed FX anthology Feud, which premiered at the end of January. Also recently collaborating with Murphy on his popular Netflix series The Watcher, she’ll next be seen starring in the drama Emmanuelle, from Venice prize winner Audrey Diwan