After 2009’s Last Chance Harvey and 2014’s The Love Punch, director Joel Hopkins is turning into somewhat of a specialist in later-life love stories and the complications that arise. He’s dipping into that well again for Hampstead, which will star Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson as people who make a connection in unlikely circumstances.
Robert Festinger is behind the script, which was inspired by a true story and developed at Ecosse Films. Keaton will star as Emily Walters, an American widow living on the edge of Hampstead Heath who, despite close friendships and a nice flat, can’t help but worry that she’s drifting through life without a plan. One day, while looking out across the grasslands and trees, she spots a ramshackle hut and its unkempt occupant, who appears to be having trouble with violent attackers. After calling the police and watching them arrive, she goes to check on the man.
Turns out Donald Horner (Gleeson) has lived quietly and peacefully on the edge of the Heath for nearly two decades, but is now facing trouble from property developers who are trying to force him out. Instead of tying balloons to his shack and floating away to paradise, he has Emily to fight his corner, going up against her friend Fiona, who has taken the side of the developers.
Hopkins will be filming early next year on location in Hampstead. Gleeson will next show up in Ron Howard’s In The Heart Of The Sea (out December 26), has **Free State Of Jones **going through the editing process and is shooting a role in Assassin’s Creed. Keaton is at work on miniseries The Young Pope and has family comedy Christmas With The Coopers due December 4. She’ll voice Dory’s mother Jenny in Finding Dory, which swims in on July 29 next year.