Eileen (film)
| Eileen | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | William Oldroyd |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Ari Wegner |
| Edited by | Nick Emerson |
| Music by | Richard Reed Parry |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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Running time | 96 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
Eileen is a 2023 feature film directed by William Oldroyd and starring Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie. It is based on the Man Booker Prize shortlisted 2015 novel of the same name by Ottessa Moshfegh[2][3] and adapted into a screenplay by Moshfegh with her husband Luke Goebel. It premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023.[4]
Synopsis
Eileen is working at a prison in 1960s New England when a captivating and glamorous counsellor arrives and helps her access new facets of her personality but may be drawing her into something more dangerous.[5]
Cast
- Thomasin McKenzie as Eileen
- Anne Hathaway as Dr. Rebecca St. John
- Shea Whigham
- Owen Teague
- Marin Ireland
- Jefferson White
Production
In August 2016 it was revealed that Erin Cressida Wilson was adapting the novel Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh for Fox Searchlight and producer Scott Rudin.[6] The novel was ultimately adapted by Moshfegh and her husband Luke Goebel.[7] The mayor of Metuchen, New Jersey, Jonathan Busch, first confirmed that Anne Hathaway, Thomasin McKenzie, and Shea Whigham would have roles in the film.[8][9][10] Filming commenced in late 2021 in Metuchen with filming locations also including South Amboy, New Jersey.[11][12][13][14] It was one of a succession of productions that Hathaway was filming in New Jersey in 2021 and 2022.[15][16][17]
Principal photography on the production was completed in February 2022. It was confirmed that Owen Teague and Marin Ireland had been added to the cast and that Endeavor Content and WME Independent were selling distribution rights.[18] Author of the novel and the screenplay Moshfegh was quoted as saying it was "a very faithful adaptation of the tone" of her original work.[19] In June 2022 she confirmed the edit was locked-in and said that McKenzie as Eileen was "amazing. It's like she was born to play that role, she's just so exciting to watch. And Anne Hathaway plays Rebecca, the sort of femme fatale character. I mean, we're watching it again today and the first cut of it, I was like, 'This is so much better than my book.' So the movie is really satisfying, I'm excited about that."[20] Moshfegh said bringing her writer husband Luke Goebel into the script writing process made the script better because he was able to add another perspective to the story. They began writing drafts during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and avoiding seasonal wildfires from Oregon to Pasadena to Palm Springs with Moshfegh saying to Vanity Fair “There was a sense of looming danger haunting us, which actually really helped the writing process.” The score for the film was written by Richard Reed Parry, from the band Arcade Fire. Hathaway described the project as “Carol meets Reservoir Dogs”.[21]
Release
It was previously reported that the film could be released in late 2022.[22][23] The film premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023.[4]
References
- ^ "Eileen". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ "My "sad girl" fans concern me': Ottessa Moshfegh in conversation with Carmen Maria Machado". The Guardian.
- ^ "Iranian-American author's novel 'Eileen' adapted into a film by Hollywood". Ibnr.ir.
- ^ a b Patten, Dominic; D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 7, 2022). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors; More". Deadline. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ "Ottessa Moshfegh Told The film adaptation of 'Eileen' Starring Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway as a "very tonally faithful adaptation"". maxblizz.com.
- ^ "Girl on the Train' Writer to Adapt Hot Novel 'Eileen' for Fox Searchlight, Scott Rudin". Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "Ottessa Moshfegh's 'Eileen' is being turned into a film and Anne Hathaway is onboard". Russh.com.
- ^ "Eileen: Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie will star in a new film adaptation of Ottessa Moshfegh's novel". Stylist.co.uk.
- ^ "Mayor accidentally reveals Kiwi star's new role with Hollywood A-Lister". nzherald.co.nz.
- ^ "Anne Hathaway drama doubles New Jersey for New England". KFTV.com.
- ^ "Eileen,' another Anne Hathaway movie, is filming in N.J." NJ.com.
- ^ "A new Anne Hathaway movie is being filmed at a South Amboy bar this week". mycentraljersey.com.
- ^ "Parts Of New Jersey To Shut Down This Week For Anne Hathaway Movie". WPST.com.
- ^ "Oscar Winning-Actress Anne Hathaway Films New Movie in South Amboy". tapinto.net.
- ^ "Anne Hathaway on Finding New Purpose and Acting Out WeWork's Real-Life Drama". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Anne Hathaway back in N.J. filming 'Mothers' Instinct' thriller with Jessica Chastain". NJ.com.
- ^ "See Anne Hathaway in new series about the fall of WeWork". NJ.com.
- ^ "Anne Hathaway & Thomasin McKenzie Thriller 'Eileen' Launches Sales At EFM Via Endeavor Content & WME Independent". Deadline.
- ^ "The macabre mind of Ottessa Moshfegh". i-d.vice.com.
- ^ "The evolution of Ottessa Moshfegh". EW.com.
- ^ "Inside Eileen, a Gorgeously Strange Ottessa Moshfegh Adaptation". Vanity Fair.
- ^ "ANNE HATHAWAY IS A DEVIANT '60S DOCTOR IN EILEEN". Nylon.com.
- ^ "William Oldroyd's 'Eileen' Might Be a Fall Fest Sleeper". worldofreel.com.