4 thesps hook 'Fishes'

Alfred Molina ("Spider-Guy 2"), Frances O'Connor ("A.I. Artificial Intelligence"), Jimmi Simpson ("Zodiac") and rising Brit thesp Aneurin Barnard are joining Kaya Scodelario and Jessica Biel in Francesca Gregorini's "Emanuel and the reality regarding Fishes." Scodelario ("Skins") stars because the title character, a troubled 17-year-old girl who babysits her new neighbor Linda's "baby," that is really a really existence-like toy. She goes together with the delusion while befriending Linda (Biel), who is actually the spitting picture of Emanuel's late mother. Molina will have Emanuel's father, while O'Connor will have her stepmother. Simpson will have among the protag's co-employees in a medical supply store and Barnard will have her love interest. Matthew Brady is creating via his MRB Prods. banner together with author-director Gregorini, while Paul Schiff, Kenny Goodman, Kevin Iwashina and Jonathan Grey will professional produce. Production is skedded to begin in the finish of The month of january in La. On Thursday, Gregorini spoke to Variety concerning the casting process and also the tone from the story. "'Lars and also the Real Girl' is a straightforward comparison, however it veers from that tonally," stated Gregorini. "I contemplate it a mental drama-thriller, with comedy elements. ... It handles dying, salvation and redemption, along with the measures we'll visit to deny our very own mortality. It comes down to the secrets we tell ourselves and from one another, and just how intricate individuals lies are." For casting, Gregorini stated her process would be to "sit lower and speak with the stars to obtain a feeling of who they really are. For me personally, the search is to locate whose essence is nearest towards the character. The city has an array of youthful women and Kaya's essence resonated because the essence from the character I authored. That's the way i cast Rooney Mara in [Gregorini's first film] 'Tanner Hall.'" Gregorini continued to confess that they did not initially pursue Biel for that role of Linda. "She found me, and that i was very carefully available to it, however she is amazing together with her audition," described the helmer. "Jessica has not really received the chance to behave such as this, but she would be a thought. I am excited for individuals to uncover this side of her." Molina is repped by WME, Hyler Management and Lou Coulson Associatesk O'Connor is repped by Gersh, Wishlab and Artist Privileges Group and Simpson is repped by WME and Industry Entertainment Barnard is repped by UTA, Anonymous Content and Ken McReddie Affiliates. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com