It’s been a long time since Nicholas Hoult first graced our screens opposite Hugh Grant in kooky British comedy About a Boy. As a stalwart of Bryan Singer’s revamped X-Men origins trilogy along with a eye-catching role in George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road – quite the compliment, given the nature of the R-rated masterpiece – now Hoult is primed to shed light on one of literature’s most reclusive figures: J.D. Salinger.
Two years after the hit documentary attempted to peel back the layers on the famed scribe, Hoult is now set to bring him to life in upcoming drama, Rebel in the Rye. Written and directed by Danny Strong, we understand that the script itself is to be adapted from Kenneth Slawenski’s aforementioned biography, J.D. Salinger: A Life, which charted the titular writer’s life and how he receded into his own privacy following the publication of The Catcher in the Rye. From a tumultuous youth to a spell on the frontlines during World War II, Salinger’s life is ripe for a cinematic adaptation, and Hoult is a compelling choice to lead Strong’s picture.
Pre-sales of Rebel in the Rye are to take place during next month’s Toronto International Film Festival, and a press release from the company has at least indicated the kind of a character arc we can expect with Strong’s depiction.
“Rebel in the Rye takes us on a journey into the life and mind of the legendary and secretive author and tells the story of the birth of The Catcher in the Rye. As the author who captivated a generation, JD Salinger soared to the heights of the literary world but left it all behind for a life of seclusion.”
We’ll keep you posted on Rebel in the Rye as this story develops. For now, you can share your thoughts on the casting of Nicholas Hoult via the comments section below.
