Geremy Jasper’s feature debutPatti Cake$was one of my favorite films of 2017 and it instantly marked him as a director to watch. So I watched as he inexplicably spent all of 2018 on the sidelines. No development deals, no rumors of a follow-up, nada. In fact, earlier this year, nearly every Sundance story out of the trades seemed to go out of its way to citePatti Cake$as a cautionary tale – an example of a film selling for a lot of money in Park City, only to flop in theaters. Well, thank God that Hollywood has finally come to its senses, as Lionsgate has tapped Jasper to directThe Night Circus, based on the bestselling novel of the same name byErin Morgenstern.
The Night Circusfollows the lush, romantic, extremely visual story of two young illusionists battling out an age-old rivalry amidst an enchanted and magical circus, bound by a fated love, and destined to affect the lives of all around them. I’m picturing a more romantic, fantastical version ofThe Prestige, if you’ll forgive the comparison toChristopher Nolan’s acclaimed period piece.
Harry PotterproducerDavid HeymanandJeffrey Clifford(Up In the Air) will produce for Heyday Films, while former Lionsgate marketing executiveTim Palenwill also produce under his Barnyard Projects banner.Richard Pinewill serve as an executive producer on the project, which Lionsgate execsMeredith WieckandBrady Fujikawawill oversee on behalf of the studio.
Annie Baker(I Love Dick) wrote the current draft of the script, while previous drafts were penned byMoira Buffini(Jane Eyre) andPatrick Ness, the writer ofAMonster Callsand Lionsgate’s upcomingDoug LimanmovieChaos WalkingstarringTom HollandandDaisy Ridley.
Jaspertrulyimpressed me withPatti Cake$, coaxing incredible performances out ofDanielle Macdonald,Bridget EverettandSiddharth Dhananjay, and introducing me to rising starMamoudou Athie. He also wrote the music for the film, and that soundtrack is one of the best in recent memory, right up there withA Star Is Born. His involvement alone makesThe Night Circusa project worth keeping an eye on, and I intend to do just that.
Jasper is represented by UTA and Untitled Entertainment.
