Nicole Kidman is in "advanced talks" to re-team with Rabbit Hole director John Cameron Mitchell for his punks and aliens sci-fi romance, How to Talk to Girls at Parties. Ruth Wilson (Luther) and Matt Lucas (Bridesmaids) are also in talks to join previously announced lead Elle Fanning (Maleficent).
Mitchell co-wrote the screenplay with Philippa Goslett (Little Ashes) based on Neil Gaiman's Hugo Award-nominated short story of the same name about “a schoolboy punk who uses music and art as a way to escape, and a female alien tourist (Fanning) who wants to escape her tour group and explore the most dangerous place in the galaxy, the London suburb of Croydon.”
Speaking with ScreenDaily about the film, Producer Howard Gertler said,
“Nicole responded very quickly and enthusiastically to the script when John sent it to her...This is a story that appeals to teens and adults, something John and Neil Gaiman’s work also achieves, and that is why it’s such a good fit. John compares it to Romeo and Juliet, except instead of Montagues and Capulets we have punks and aliens."
This is such a fabulous combination of eccentric and idiosyncratic sensibilities. Applying the creative talents of the mastermind behind Hedwig and the Angry Inch to one of Gaiman's always-innovative narratives sounds like sci-fi heaven; super weird, delightfully bizarre sci-fi heaven. It's also encouraging that Mitchell and Kidman are so selective about their projects - when they chose to do something, you just know they're passionate about it. The pair is also a proven knockout combo. They did wonderful work together on Rabbit Hole, which landed Kidman an Oscar nomination, and while this material is, pardon, galaxies away from the gut-wrenching devastation of that film, I always love to see actor-director partnerships lead to multiple collaborations.
Production on How to Talk to Girls at Parties is expected to begin in the fall.
