Rising star Bella Thorne is set to join Kit Harington, Jessica Chastain and Taylor Kitsch in Xavier Dolan‘s first English-language feature “The Death and Life of John F. Donovan,” TheWrap has learned.
“Donovan” is described as a drama that follows a young actor who recalls the secretive correspondence he shared as a teenager with an American TV star who died 10 years earlier. The story explores the hardships of fame and the never-ending hurdles of the movie business, and reflects on issues of identity and diversity in Hollywood over the past decade.
Harington will play the title character, while Chastain co-stars as the editor-in-chief of a gossip magazine. Thorne will play Chastain’s assistant.
Oscar winners Susan Sarandon and Kathy Bates co-star alongside Michael Gambon, Chris Zylka and Emily Hampshire, while singer Adele has also agreed to cameo in the film after working with Dolan on her “Hello” music video.
Dolan will produce “The Death and Life of John F. Donovan” with his Sons Of Manual producing partner Nancy Grant and Lyse Lafontaine of Lyla Films. Joe Iacono will serve as executive producer on the project, which is expected to start shooting in the spring after recently being greenlit by eOne.
CAA is handling U.S. rights, while Entertainment One’s Seville International is handling foreign rights.
Thorne, who is currently filming McG‘s “The Babysitter,” will soon be seen in “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip,” “Amityville: The Awakening” and the home invasion thriller “Keep Watching.” She has also wrapped the indie “Midnight Sun” with Patrick Schwarzenegger and “Shovel Buddies” for Awesomeness Films. She’s represented by WME, LBI Entertainment and attorney Howard Fishman.
Thorne’s casting was first reported by Variety.