In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Tulip Fever, Justin Chadwick’s impassioned period drama that initially wrapped production in late 2014, has been pegged for release on July 15 by The Weinstein Company.
News of Chadwick’s 17th century feature securing a launch date ought to please fans that have been pining for a dose of Tulip Fever ever since the project first entered production. But the mere fact that the studio has ushered the Alicia Vikander-led drama into the crowded summer window doesn’t exactly bode well for a movie that would be more suited for a release in, say, September to compete in awards season.
Alas, it’s still a little early to draw conclusions based on today’s long-awaited release news. Based on Deborah Moggach’s acclaimed novel about Dane DeHaan’s aspiring artist, Tulip Fever chronicles his story as he falls head over heels with a woman (Vikander) trapped in a loveless marriage.
Vikander and DeHaan’s besotted couple then take full advantage of the economic boom of the times, when Netherlands was gripped by a period known as a Tulip Mania where single bulbs would sell for astronomical prices, allowing the pair to pull together enough money to build a future together. Christoph Waltz, Jack O’Connell, Holliday Grainger, Cara Delevingne, Judi Dench and Zach Galafianakis complete the starry ensemble.
Tulip Fever will finally whisk moviegoers back to the Dutch Golden Age when Chadwick’s passion project makes its bow on July 15. Then, it’ll be opening against stiff competition in the form of Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters reboot and the Bryan Cranston-led narcotics thriller, The Infiltrator.
