Thanks to success with the likes of Crazy Stupid Love, writer-turned-director Dan Fogelman has some clout when it comes to casting. He’s just locked down Jennifer Garner and Michael Caine for his shot-calling debut, music-themed drama **Imagine.
The movie will focus on an aging, 60-plus rock star (Al Pacino) who is content to coast on former glories while still packing arenas and enjoying a wild life with a young girlfriend. He has no desire for anything else, perhaps unsurprisingly.
But then he discovers an undelivered letter that John Lennon wrote to him when he was 19. The missive from his hero inspires him to rediscover his passion for music and creativity, while also spurring him to connect with the 40-year-old son he never made time for before.
As part of his new journey, he moves into a small New Jersey hotel and makes friends with the manager.
After a few false starts in development, the film now boasts Annette Bening (playing the hotel manager) and Bobby Cannavale, who has taken over from Jeremy Renner as Pacino’s son. Garner will be his daughter-in-law, while Caine is set to play his music manager.
Fogelman’s scheduled to kick off shooting next month in LA. Garner is shooting American Football comedy Draft Day and will also be seen in Dallas Buyers Club. Caine will next crop up in magician heist movie Now You See Me (due July 3), Mr. Morgan’s Last Lov****e and Eliza Graves. He’s also set to be part of the cast for Chris Nolan’s Interstellar.