Just a little over an hour ago about the new Charlie Kaufman project Frank or Francis. While the story revealed the subject of the movie - online film critics - one key piece of information the story lacked was who will actually be starring in the movie. As I mentioned, Nicolas Cage, Jack Black and Steve Carell have had their names connected to the project, but it was unknown if they would actually be doing it. It turns out that they will be and another actor has joined them as well.
Variety reports that the three aforementioned actors are now all officially attached to star in Frank or Francis as is Kevin Kline, who will be playing two roles. The story revolves around Black's character, Francis -an "extremely intelligent Internet troll" - who takes pleasure in taking direct aim at a "successful, somewhat pretentious filmmaker" named Frank, played by Carell (who also happens to be cheating on his wife). Cage, who returns to Kaufman's work for the first time since 2002's Adaptation, plays a high profile actor named The Emcee who is known for making high concept films.
But here is where it gets weird: one of the characters that Kline plays is named Richard Waller, brother of Jonathan Waller, the filmmaker responsible for the most successful movie of all time. But while you may be thinking that Kline will play his own brother, you're dead wrong. Instead, the second role Kline will play a character called Richard's Head, "an animatronic head that, through the use of advanced screenwriting techniques, helps Jonathan develop a completely inoffensive product that will have the broadest possible appeal and zero artistic integrity." I'll wait while you let that soak in.
The casting process isn't over yet, as they are still looking for two actresses for singing parts (yes, there's apparently singing involved). Kaufman will be directing the film himself (only his second effort after 2008's Synecdoche, New York) and the project is scheduled to start production in January.
