Tommy Lee Jones is the latest actor to join the cast of Great Hope Springs. Directed by David Frankel, Meryl Streep and Steve Carell are poised to star in the film that centers on a longtime couple who decides to undergo intense marriage counseling. Jones will play Streep’s husband, while Carell is set to play a relationship guru. Mike Nichols was previously circling the project as his next directorial vehicle, but he subsequently dropped out.The screenplay, written by Vanessa Taylor, landed on the Black List. Production on Great Hope Springs is set to start this August, with a 4th quarter 2012 release date being eyed. Based on the premise, a holiday release a la It’s Complicated seems likely. Hit the jump to read the full press release, as well as the official synopsis.Here’s the synopsis:
Many years of marriage have left Maeve (Streep) wanting to spice things up and reconnect with her husband.  When she hears of a famed relationship guru (Carell) in the town of Great Hope Springs, she must persuade her skeptical husband (Jones) to get on a plane for an intense week of marriage and sex therapy.  Getting there was hard enough...now shedding their bedroom hang ups, learning some new moves and rediscovering their youthful spark is when the real adventure begins.
Here’s the full press release:
TOMMY LEE JONES SET TO STAR IN ‘GREAT HOPE SPRINGS’
Los Angeles, CA (May 19, 2011) – Tommy Lee Jones has closed a deal to star in GREAT HOPE SPRINGS, to be directed by David Frankel. The comedy also stars Meryl Streep and Steve Carell. Sony Pictures holds North American distribution rights to the film which will be released in the 4th quarter of 2012. The screenplay by Vanessa Taylor and featured on the prestigious Black List, follows a middle-aged couple who after thirty years of marriage attend an intense counseling weekend to examine the intimacy issues that are threatening their marriage.
Guymon Casady of Film 360, the feature film production entity of Management 360, and Todd Black for his Escape Artists banner are producing. Mandate president Nathan Kahane, Escape Artists’ Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch, and Jessie Nelson are executive producing. Mandate’s Lawrence Grey serves as a co-producer. Escape Artists’ Chris Coggins and Lance Johnson will serve as associate producers. Mandate Pictures has set an August 2011 start date for production on the movie. Film 360 discovered the project, brought in Escape Artists as their partner, and then together approached Mandate for the financing. Lionsgate is handling international sales.
Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep are represented by CAA, who was integral in putting this project together at Mandate. Steve Carell is managed by Steve Sauer at Media Four and Michelle Bohan at William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment. David Frankel is represented by WME and Anonymous Content. Vanessa Taylor is represented by UTA and Management 360. Dan Freedman, Mandate’s SVP of Business Affairs, negotiated the deals for the company.