Paul Dano will play Brian Wilson in a new biopic about the gifted, but troubled Beach Boys leader.
Entitled "Love & Mercy," the film will be directed by Bill Pohlad, who produced "The Tree of Life" and is also the son of billionaire Carl Pohlad, the owner of baseball's Minnesota Twins. Oren Moverman, who earned an Oscar nomination for his screenplay for "The Messenger" in 2010, wrote the script for the film.
Dano will play Wilson in his younger "Surfin' USA" days, but another, as yet uncast actor will play an older version of the singer, presumably taking up the mantle to dramatize the singer and songwriter's long slide into mental illness and addiction.
Dano has impressed critics with intense turns in movies including 2007's "There Will Be Blood" and with more lighthearted roles such as last year's romantic comedy "Ruby Sparks." He is currently filming "Prisoners" with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal and will next be seen in Steve McQueen’s "Twelve Years a Slave" opposite Brad Pitt.
The star also received a very important blessing after getting the part.
"I am thrilled that Paul Dano has signed on to play me during one of my most creative explosions and most fulfilling musical times in my career,” Wilson said in a statement. “I still can't believe how cool it is that my life will be portrayed on the big screen and to have Bill Pohlad as the captain of the Sloop John B is amazing."
John Wells and Claire Rudnick Polstein (John Wells Productions) will produce along with River Road, which Pohlad founded.
Atticus Ross, who won an Oscar for scoring "The Social Network," is in talks to work on the sound design of the film and the soundtrack, which will feature lots of Wilson hits.
Paul Dano is represented by Anonymous Content and WME.
