While there have been countless movies about writers working on their novels, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions' new dramaGeniustakes a much different approach, focusing on the editing of an iconic novel.Yahoo! Movieshas the first trailer forGenius, which follows the relationship between literary iconThomas Wolfe(Jude Law) and his editor,Maxwell Perkins(Colin Firth). This trailer showcases howPerkinstookWolfe’s first draft of his iconic novelLook Homeward, Angel, and transformed it from a first draft that was over 5,000 pages long into a literary classic.
FromAcademy Award-nominatedscreenwriterJohn Logan(Gladiator,The Aviator,Hugo,Skyfall) and acclaimed, Tony Award-winning director Michael Grandage in his feature film debut, comesGenius. This stirring drama centers on the complex friendship and transformative professional relationship between the world-renowned book editor Maxwell Perkins (who discovered F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway) and the larger-than-life literary giantThomas Wolfe. Based on the biography “Max Perkins: Editor of Genius” by A. Scott Berg,GeniusstarsColin Firthas Perkins,Jude Lawas Wolfe,Nicole Kidmanas Aline Bernstein, a costume designer sharing a tumultuous relationship with Wolfe,Laura Linneyas Louise Perkins, Max’s wife and a talented playwright,Guy Pearceas F. Scott Fitzgerald andDominic Westas Ernest Hemingway.
Geniusis the third collaboration between director Michael Grandage, his producing partner James Bierman andJohn Logan. The trio worked on the stage production ofRed, inspired by artistMark Rothko, and more recentlyPeter and Alice, which starred DameJudi DenchandBen Whishaw.Michael Fassbenderwas originally set to star asThomas Wolfebefore he dropped out and was replaced byJude Law.
Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions have set a June 10release dateforGenius, putting it up against some serious competition this summer. It will be going up against the highly-anticipated video game adaptationWarcraft, the horror sequelThe Conjuring: The Enfield PoltergeistandNow You See Me 2in June. It isn’t known yet ifGeniuswill get a wide release, or if it will debut in a limited platform release.
It remains to be seen how a drama likeGeniuswill perform against these three summer tentpoles, but we’ll have to wait until June 10 to find out for sure. Do you plan on checking outGeniusin theaters, or will you be watching any of its competitors instead? Chime in with your thoughts below, after taking a look at the firstGeniustrailer.
