Another Sundance premiere has found distribution as IFC Films has picked up Paul Dano’s directorial debut Wildlife, adapted from Richard Ford’s novel, with plans to distribute in the U.S. and Canda.
Set in the early ’60s, Wildlife stars Carey Mulligan and Jake Gyllenhaal as married couple Jerry and Jeanette with a young son Joe, whose domestic life is disrupted by Jerry’s decision to help fight forest fires, a dangerous and deadly occupation. Frustrated, Jeanette finds solace in the arms of a wealthy car dealer, played by Bill Camp.
Dano co-wrote the screenplay with partner Zoe Kazan, who also wrote the duo’s 2012 rom-com Ruby Sparks, directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton.
While I wasn’t really a fan of Wildlife, it seems like a good fit for IFC Films, as the indie distributor has done decently with smaller indie dramas based on their star power. Both Mulligan and Dano should make themselves available to promote the film.
You can read what I wrote about the film at Sundance, comparing it to other films with female leads facing mid-life crises.
Edward Douglas | East Coast Editor
