John Krasinski’s first stab at directing – Brief Interviews With Hideous Men – was a mini-budget indie that flew low under the radar. He’s likely to score more attention for his second attempt,** The Hollars**, which will see him also star alongside Anna Kendrick, Richard Jenkins and Margo Martindale{
James C. Strouse wrote the script, which Krasinski optioned through his production company, Saturday Night. He’ll play John Hollar, who must leave his comfy New York life and beautiful girlfriend so he can return to his Midwest hometown to help his family cope when his mother needs brain surgery. As he straddles the line between his old life and his current one, he must deal with a helpless brother, an anxiety-riddled father and an over-eager former high school flame.
“This is one of the best scripts I’ve read, period,” Krasinski says in a statement reported by Screen International. “Jim has written one of the most tough-minded, sweet, funny and accurate stories about family I’ve seen. I am lucky to have a script like this to direct… and to have this cast is simply surreal.” The project will be sold at the Cannes Film Market and should kick off shooting soon.
Krasinski will next be seen in Cameron Crowe’s as-yet-untitled new project, due here on January 23 next year. He’s also part of the voice cast for animated effort** The Prophet** (not to be confused with French prison drama A Prophet).