Depp's Shantaram Gets Some Nair Care
Filed under: Drama, Casting, Warner Brothers, Johnny Depp
Of all the actors who are regularly mentioned on Cinematical, Johnny Depp certainly seems to be the most popular. So, I am glad to be able to give the readers another update on Depp's passion project, Shantaram, which has just acquired a new director. Indian auteur Mira Nair has signed on to the film, which is based on Gregory David Roberts' mostly autobiographical novel. Shooting is now slated to begin later this year, once Depp is done with Sweeney Todd. It has been awhile since we last heard about this film -- its formerly attached director, Peter Weir, dropped out last summer. But there were probably few worries that Depp would run out of projects to work on. Aside from Sweeney, he's also slated for The Rum Diary and maybe Rex Mundi. Plus, his production company has a number of adaptations he could star in. Still, Shantaram is the film that Depp paid $2 million for rights to, so he was probably most interested in getting it off and running again.
Anyway, Nair is the best choice for any Hollywood film set in India. Few Indian filmmakers have been as successful at crossing over in the States as she, and she also seems to fit better as a liason between American and Indian cinema than some of her peers (Mehta isn't Hollywood enough and Chadha has totally sold out). Now she just needs to get acquainted with Australia, and she'll do a terrific job.
More on Mira Nair:
TIFF Interview: Mira Nair
Peter Jackson Says Spielberg's 'Tintin' is Done Filming, but...
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