In 2011, folks sat up and took notice of Matthias Schoenaerts. He broke out in the Oscar-nominated "Bullhead," and hasn't looked back since. In 2012 he starred in Jacques Audiard's "Rust And Bone," shot Guillaume Canet's "Blood Ties," and lined up a role opposite Michelle Williams in the WWII drama "Suite Francaise" shooting next spring. But it looks like the actor hasn't forgotten who helped him get a leg up.
Schoenaerts will reteam with "Bullhead" director Michael Roskam for "The Faithful." The project is still in early stages — Roskam is writing it with an unnamed "high profile scribe" — but it's said to be a film noir about a criminal gang set in Brussels, and should all the pieces fall into place, shooting will take place in the spring of 2014. Variety says this will be Roskam's sophomore feature, but they seem to forget he's currently slated to lens "Animal Rescue" with Tom Hardy and possibly Noomi Rapace this spring. But regardless, having the actor and director back together again is certainly promising.
Meanwhile, Schoenaerts is keeping his calendar full by also signing up for "The Ardennes," described as a "Fargo" meets "Trainspotting" type movie about three Belgians who travel to the titular forest to dispose of a body. Jeroen Perceval has penned the script that Robin Pront will direct, making his feature film debut. No word yet on when it will lens.
But more Schoenaerts in projects like these is only a good thing, and it looks like there is going to be much more to come from the actor.
Frenchest dudes