Kristen Stewart will star in Ben Foster’s still-untitled directorial debut, an adaptation of William Burrough’s early works and letters.
Foster and Oren Moverman wrote the screenplay for the project — Celluloid Dreams has acquired the international sales rights for the film that will also star Tom Glynn-Carney.
Olive Productions’ Wren Arthur, Waypoint’s Ken Kao, and Sight Unseen’s Moverman are producing, with Olive’s Steve Buscemi serving as executive producer.
The film will explore an unusual love triangle between Burroughs (Foster) and his common-law muse Joan Vollmer (Stewart) and an American ex-pat named Allerton (Glynn-Carney). Burroughs is regarded as the primary literary outlaw of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, who served as an inspiration to many other writers.
“We have found the perfect partners in Hengameh Panahi and Charlotte Mickie of Celluloid Dreams,” Foster stated. “We are delighted to align our film with their formidable taste and reputation to celebrate this unique, untold love story. Our film is kind of anti-Beat. We meet our star-crossed lovers in New York City, head to the Texas border, roar through Mexico City’s underbelly, and end up in the Amazon jungle. This film is about love, sex and self-discovery in all of its lush, dark and often hilarious complexity.”
Foster most recently starred in last year’s celebrated “Leave No Trace” as well as “Hell or High Water,” for which he won the 2017 Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actor. He is represented by UTA.
Stewart’s credits include “Twilight,” “Personal Shopper,” “Lizzie” and most recently “JT LeRoy.” She will next be seen in “Against All Enemies” and “Charlie’s Angels.” She is represented by the Gersh Agency.
Glynn-Carney most recently starred in “Dunkirk” and will next be seen in “Tolkien.” He is represented by Independent Talent Group and UTA.
UTA Independent Film Group will handle sales for the United States and Canada.