Noah Baumbach Replaces Ron Howard to Direct THE EMPEROR’S CHILDREN

Noah Baumbach, director of The Squid and the Whale and the new movie Greenberg, is now signed on to direct an adaptation of Claire Messud’s 2006 novel The Emperor’s Children. The Wrap is reporting that the Baumbach will be directing the film in place of the previously announced Ron Howard who will now produce with Brian Grazer. The film already has a decent cast established including Keira Knightly, Richard Gere, and Eric Bana.

The Emperor’s Children‘s plot is right up Baumbach’s alley, with a story not too far out of the realm of the director’s previous films. The dramedy will focus around three Brown University graduates who are approaching their 30′s and are struggling to realize what their lives expectations are. The plot’s timeframe unfolds from pre to post 9/11 in New York. Since Gere is a little old to be playing a struggling Brown University grad in his 30s, I’m assuming he’ll be playing more of a supporting role. The film is currently eyeing a summer start date.