It feels like Akiva Goldman has been putting together his directorial outing, Winter’s Tale, forever. It’s been slowly coming together for several years, and now it’s moved forward once again, with Deadline reporting that Matt Bomer, Lucy Griffiths and the legendary Eva Marie Saint have signed up to appear in the movie.
They join Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, William Hurt, Russell Crowe and Will Smith, with the last two taking very small roles as a favour to Goldsman, who’s worked with the previously on the likes of I Am Legend and A Beautiful Mind.
The romance, which will be producer/screenwriter Goldsman’s directorial debut, is based on Mark Helprin’s fantasy novel that splits it story of star-crossed lovers between 19th century and present-day Manhattan. Colin Farrell will play Peter Lake, an uneducated, middle-aged Irish burglar who meets the love of his life, sickly heiress Beverly Penn, while attempting to rob her palatial mansion in the Upper West Side. Jessica Brown Findlay of Downton Abbey will play his invalid lover.
Oddly though Bomer and Griffiths have been cast to play Peter’s parents, although quite how that will work, seeing as Farrell is older than both Bomer and Griffiths, isn’t clear. The producers haven’t revealed what role Saint will play, as apparently it would be a bit of a spoiler.
The movie will finally go in front of the cameras starting October 27th.