Coming off of last yearâs excellent (and sadly underseen) Young Adult, director Jason Reitman is gearing up to begin production on his next project, Labor Day, this summer. Reitman scripted the adaptation of Joyce Manardâs novel himself, and Kate Winselt stars as a lonely mother whose 13-year-old son convinces her to take in a drifter (Josh Brolin) who turns out to be an escaped convict. The three spend Labor Day Weekend together and, obviously, bond. THR now reports that James Van Der Beek has joined the cast as a police officer investigating a missing personâs case ($10 says he shows up on Winsletâs doorstep at some point in the film).Additionally, a separate report from THR reveals that, following an extensive search, Reitman has settled on Gattlin Griffith (Changeling) to play Winsletâs son in the film. The deal isnât closed, but the actor has entered negotiations. The role is crucial as the story is told from the boyâs point of view. Iâm a big fan of Reitman so Iâm eager to check this one out. The director will have waited nearly a year to start production so that Winslet and Brolinâs schedules could free up, so clearly heâs passionate about what heâs put together. [Update: Feeling left out by the Labor Day casting party, Variety now adds that Brighid Fleming has landed the young female lead in the film, a character who acts as the object of Griffith's affection.]
James Van Der Beek and Gattlin Griffith Join Jason Reitman’s LABOR DAY
James Van Der Beek and Gattlin Griffith Join LABOR DAY. Jason Reitman's drama Labor Day will star Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin.