Michael Shannon is a talented actor with a wide variety of abilities. Few other artists can match his ability to hold the audience’s attention. As soon as he’s on screen, it’s impossible to look elsewhere. Shannon’s directorial debut, Eric Larue, is still in its infancy, but it’s clear why the Oscar-nominated actor was able to get such a prestigious cast for the project. If Shannon does not appear in the film, the cast will include actors like Judy Greer, Alexander Skarsgard, Tracy Letts Alison Pill Kate Arrington Paul Sparks and Annie Parisse.
The film is currently filming in Wilmington NC and is being directed by Shannon. The story was first published by Deadline, however, we have no idea who these performers are portraying. Eric Larue is based on Brett Neveu’s 2002 play of the same name, as previously stated. The screenplay adaptation was also written by the writer. Three of her son’s classmates were slain by a 17-year-old kid who shot and killed his mother and her boyfriend.
After meeting with the mothers of three dead boys’ families and planning a visit with her imprisoned son, the narrative becomes a story “not about violence but about what we choose to think and do in order to endure tragedy,” as the mother puts it. All of these actors have proved themselves to be performers with extremely dynamic depth and this project will ideally play to their particular skills, even if it’s not yet apparent where they’ll fit in this currently-in-production picture. Originally created in reaction to the Columbine shootings in 1999, Eric Larue is a powerful piece that, sadly, only gets more timely.
If recent mass shootings in the United States are any indication, Shannon’s debut feature is likely to be as fearless and unflinching as his on-screen performance. Neveu’s play in the past and what he aims to achieve with his film are expressed in Shannon’s own words: Eric Larue is one of those stories that engage the reader on both a macro and micro level at the same time. Once I finished reading the script, I knew I had to take on the role of director. It was right in front of me. I’ve heard of it. It was tangible to me.
In the end, it’s a really delicate object, so I wanted to make sure it got exactly the correct touch in all of its parts. Despite his reputation as a hard-edged actor, it looks like Shannon’s debut film will be softer and more contemplative. This contrasts with Shannon’s reputation as a hard-edged actor. Everything is still in flux, so we can only wait and see how it all comes together. No release date has been set for Eric Larue, but we’ll keep you up to date on any new information that comes our way.