Sandra Hüller and Willem Dafoe Set to Star in Kent Jones’ ‘Late Fame’

Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall) and Willem Dafoe (Poor Things) are set to star in Kent Jones‘ ‘Late Fame‘. The filming is scheduled to begin in New York City in the fall.

The film is described as “wickedly ironic and unexpectedly poignant,” exploring the illusory effect of praise on the soul and the lingering ghostly presence of the past, whether imagined or vividly remembered.

Directed by Jones, the film reunites them with ‘May December’ screenwriter Samy Burch and producer Killer Films. According to Variety, the film is set for a Cannes launch and has been acquired by MK2. They’ll handle global sales except in North America, where WME Independent, UTA Independent Film Group, and Cinetic Media will manage rights.

What is the Plot of ‘Late Fame’?

The film follows the story of Ed Saxberger (Dafoe), who wrote a book of poetry a long time ago that no one ever cared about. When a group of young artists rediscovers his work, he must reassess his genius. The wild card in the group is Gloria (Hüller), a talented and mercurial theater actress who toys with affection and who is all set to be admired by Saxberger, this legendary figure from a gritty New York golden age.

In a statement, the company said, “Killer Films is honored to be re-teaming with Samy on her next screenplay. Her voice is original, her screenwriting is deeply thematic, and she keeps you off balance in the most satisfying and surprising way. Out of the gate, we talked about Kent Jones as the director.  We both loved ‘Diane,’ and we know he will execute the story with his observant, detailed naturalism shot through with humor and feeling.”

Jones made his feature film debut with the award-winning ‘Diane,’ starring Mary Kay Place and Jake Lacy. His previous work includes the documentary ‘Hitchcock/Truffaut,’ which premiered at Cannes in 2015 and the Peabody Award-winning ‘A Letter to Elia,’ co-directed with Martin Scorsese, with whom he has collaborated frequently over the years. He is currently working with Scorsese on the series ‘Saints,’ and on an upcoming adaptation of Shusaku Endo’s ‘A Life of Jesus.’

Produced by Pamela Koffler and Christine Vachon for Killer Films.

The release date for ‘Late Fame’ is TBA.