SelmafilmmakerAva DuVernayis getting back behind cameras this week on her narrative follow-up to the moving Martin Luther King Jr. drama. While DuVernay snuck in a must-see documentary on the institutional racism of this country’s incarceration called13thlast month (watch it on Netflixnow), she’s currently moving on to a big budget fantasy film for Disney:A Wrinkle in Time. Indeed, DuVernay’s adaptation of the belovedMadeleine L’Englenovel starts production on November 2nd, and Disney has now confirmed the entire ensemble cast.
Leading the charge in an inspired bit of casting is newcomerStorm Reedas Meg Murry, but DuVernay’s ensemble is also filled out by plenty of familiar faces:
The film is described as a “reimaginging” of L’Engle’s novel that follows Meg Murry, her brilliant brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin on an unexpected journey into alternate dimensions on a mission to bring home their father. DuVernay, who flirted with some other big projects as her follow-up toSelmaincluding Marvel’sBlack Pantherand the original sci-fiIntelligent Life, had this to say about the project:
“Since Day One, this experience has shimmered with the promise and possibility, the passion and power that only great stories offer. And Madeline L’Engle’s book is a great story indeed. A cool, quirky tale of an imperfect girl on an otherworldly expedition that has been praised and banned, dissected and celebrated the world over for more than 50 years. On behalf of all the filmmakers, artists and craftspeople in ourWrinkle in Timefamily, we are genuinely thrilled by and truly grateful for the opportunity to make this film together.”
DuVernay is working from a screenplay byFrozenscribe and co-directorJennifer Lee, and while her collaboration with cinematographerBradford Youngresulted instunningimagery inSelmaandMiddle of Nowhere, Young is currently busy getting ready to lensthe Young Han SoloStar Warsspinoff. In his stead, DuVernay is teaming up with director of photographyTobias A. Schliessler, whose work onDreamgirlsandLone Survivoris striking, and who is just coming off of shooting Disney’s live-actionBeauty and the Beast.@. DuVernay’s team also includes production designerNaomi Shohan(American Beauty), costume designerPaco Delgado(The Danish Girl), and visual effects supervisorRich McBride(Gravity).
Production onA Wrinkle in Timewill primarily take place in Los Angeles, with two weeks of filming scheduled for New Zealand to capture the fantastical worlds of the film. As a huge fan of DuVernay’s work, I can’t wait to see what she brings to the blockbuster fantasy genre. One thing’s for certain—her casting here is downright inspired.
