“People Should Watch This Film And Be Outraged:” ‘Dumb Money’ Director Craig Gillespie On GameStop, Wealth Disparity & A Rigged Stock Market
14.09.2023 - 17:29
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: The GameStop short squeeze drama Dumb Money premiered in Toronto before hitting theaters tomorrow through Sony Pictures. I, Tonya & Lars and the Real Girl helmer Craig Gillespie directed with Paul Dano playing Keith Gill, whose impassioned YouTube stock tip on the retail store for hardcore gamers drew a rabid following during the pandemic, and would up making a multimillionaire of Gill and bankrupting a major hedge fund. Shailene Woodley, Pete Davidson, Seth Rogen, Vincent D’Onofrio, Nick Offerman, Sebastian Stan and America Ferrera round out the cast of the Black Bear-funded film that Lauren Schuker Blum & Rebecca Angelo adapted from Ben Mezrich’s book The Anti-Social Network. The Aussie Gillespie takes us through his second fact-based underdog story, which he’s mixed with Cruella and a sequel that will start after the strike ends.
DEADLINE: I remember last time you had a film in Toronto, I, Tonya. I was sitting next to Harvey Weinstein, he said, I need to buy this, but I’m going to cut it. I said, don’t cut a frame. I’d heard you weren’t interested in doing that.
CRAIG GILLESPIE: I met with his people that morning and I was just like, I don’t want to sell it to you guys. Because he notoriously messed with movies and I’m like, no thank you.
DEADLINE: You don’t always get that leverage. There are strike contrasts in the film, you’re laughing and suddenly Tonya gets belted across the face by her husband. The deal as I recall was, take it or leave it.
GILLESPIE: Miramax sold it at Toronto, which we found out six weeks before. They really didn’t think it was going to make any money. It made a lot.
DEADLINE: There’s strong buzz on Dumb Money and also one called Blackberry, about the rise and fall of the first