Sheldon Turner To Write And Direct By Virtue Fall

In 2009 audiences saw the work of Sheldon Turner go up on the big screen with his adaptation of Up in the Air. That little project directed by Jason Reitman and starring George Clooney was nominated for an Oscar and although the screenwriter did not win the award, he did receive his just desserts. Now Turner is looking towards his directorial debut of By Virtue Fall. In addition to directing, he screenwriter will also pen the script.

Eric Bana and Colin Farrell were both reported last year to be interested in the independently financed picture, and The Hurt Locker producer Nicolas Chartier had been on board to produce. Farrell wound up opting out, and Chartier says he’s no longer involved with the project. But Bana is now very much on board, telling 24 Frames he hopes to make it his next movie after he finishes shooting Blackbird, the thriller he’s currently making with Olivia Wilde. (Of his character, Bana says drolly, “He’s not a great guy.”) Also joining the project are James Spader, Ryan Phillippe and Carla Gugino. Shaping up to be a great cast, don’t you think?