Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton are all in talks to star in Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom," reports Deadline.
Anderson will produce and direct the period film from a script he co-wrote with frequent collaborator Roman Coppola. Set in the '60s, the film concerns two young adults who fall in love and run away, as well as the community leaders of their New England town who decide to search for them, fearing that they've disappeared.
While it remains unclear what role Swinton will be taking on, Norton will play a scout leader who brings his charges on a search.
Willis is in talks to play the town sheriff, who is having an affair with the missing girl's mother, which is the role that McDormand is in negotiations for. As for Murray, he'll play the girl's father, who is dealing with his own issues.
Scott Rudin is producing "Moonrise Kingdom," and Steven Rales' production company, Indian Paintbrush, is in early discussions to finance and produce the film. Rales previously produced Anderson's "The Fantastic Mr. Fox" and "The Darjeeling Limited" with Rudin.
Anderson is one of my favorite filmmakers, and has been for more than a decade now. The director's detractors accuse him of repeating himself, but while the dysfunctional family themes of his films may seem similar on the outside every one of his pictures is unique in its own way, with "The Darjeeling Limited" being a particularly underrated work of comic genius.
The cast he has assembled for "Moonrise Kingdom" is as impressive as any of his other ensembles, and I drool with anticipation for what they'll come up with together.
Production is expected to begin in late spring.
