This year has been a busy & productive one for Daniel Brühl, who has been cast in three different films: the adaptation of Movie Teller, the racing rivalry film 2 Win, and the pandemic thriller Rich Flu. Now, the highly regarded German actor will be joining fellow Marvel star Paul Bettany in the film version of Anthony McCarten’s play The Collaboration, which will chronicle the working relationship between legendary artists Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat beginning in the summer of 1984. Deadline has reported the news.
Warhol (Bettany) had been a famous artist for decades, but it wasn’t until the 1980s, when he began working with the prolific young artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, that he truly came back into the public eye (Jeremy Pope).
Their relationship saw increasing attention and extraordinary success, which is primarily the subject of The Collaboration, despite the fact that the two artists had quite different approaches to their work and to life in general. McCarten’s drama, directed brilliantly by Kwame Kwei-Armah, premiered in the West End earlier this year to its own unexpected triumph. Brühl will play Bruno Bischofberger, a prominent Swiss art dealer known for his impeccable taste. He was an advocate for Neo-Expressionist painters like Basquiat. He was also well-known for his early friendship with Warhol, which earned him the exclusive right to purchase future works by the late artist up until Warhol’s death in 1987.
Since it was Bischofberger who recommended the two artists work together despite their contrasting approaches, he plays a pivotal role in the creation of The Collaboration. With Kwei-Armah back at the helm, we can rest assured that the film will capture the same enchantment as the stage version. Oscar winner and production designer for Black Panther, Hannah Beachler, has been selected to work on this film’s visuals, while Oscar-nominated cinematographer Robert Yeoman has also joined the team. After making their debut in the play in February at London’s Young Vic Theatre, Bettany and Pope will be returning to the stage to reprise their respective roles.
When filming concludes later this year, the play will be performed at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre for the benefit of Broadway audiences. Bettany and Pope will be starring. The show’s previews start on November 29, and opening night is on December 20. Boston is poised to become the location for the production of The Collaboration this September.