WillBlackbird beflyinghigh withapairof Oscarwinners?
Oscar winners Kate Winslet and Diane Keaton are to star alongside each other for the first time.
They have been brought together by director roger Michell, hot on the heels of the success of his acclaimed Nothing Like a Dame docu - mentary ( featuring Eileen atkins, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright and Maggie smith) and the transfer of Nina raine’s gripping play consent (which he directs) from the National to the W est End’s Harold Pinter Theatre.
Michell has paired K eaton and W inslet as mother and daughter in a family drama called Blackbird ( nothing whatsoever to do, by the way , with David Harrower’s dark play of the same name).
The film will shoot in the UK from september, though the story is set in the United states.
Michell has history with Keaton, having worked with her, rachel Mcadams and Harrison F ord on Morning Glory — a film set in the world of american breakfast TV which I have a soft spot for , despite the fact it’s very soppy.
I’m also a fan of Notting Hill, which Michell made back in 1999 with Hugh Grant and Julia roberts, both on top form. It ’s currently on Delta air Lines’ in-flight movie list and I’ve found myself watching it, idly, a few times over the past year, and it stands up superbly.
so let ’ s see what kind of performances he can garner from Winslet and Keaton, who won Oscars for The reader and annie Hall, respectively.
Winslet was sublime in the woefully neglected Woody allen film Wonder Wheel. But there will be zero neglect when it comes to a vatar 2, which reu - nites W inslet with Titanic director James cameron and is out late in 2020.
I’m wondering aloud here, but could W inslet find herself appearing in Danny Boyle’s Bond 25? The pair worked together on steve Jobs and I know they’re keen to repeat the experience.
You never know!