2012 could not be going better for Nina Arianda. The actress quickly followed up her Tony award win for "Venus In Fur" with two plum movie gigs, landing the lead in the Sean Durkin ("Martha Marcy May Marlene") directed Janis Joplin biopic "Joplin" and a part opposite Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy in "The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby." And now, she's set to take on one of the most beloved international actresses of all time.
Arianda will play Giulietta Masina in "Fellini Black And White." Written and set to be directed by Henry Bromwell, the film will be based on the true story of Federico Fellini's first trip to Los Angeles in 1957 for the Oscars where "Nights Of Cabiria" (starring Masina) was nominated, only to disappear for two days before making it to the ceremony. The film will ponder what the director did in that time, having him discover the vibrant jazz and surf scenes of the era and falling in love with a veterinarian, while his wife finds herself in the arms of Ricky Nelson, blurring between truth, reality and myth not unlike Fellini himself.
"Elite Squad" and "Elysium" actor Wagner Moura takes on the role of the director, with Fellini and Masina marking one of the great movie couples of all time, married for 50 years, collaborating on seven on his films. The cast is rounded out by Peter Dinklage who will play the vet's lover, William H. Macy as the director's publicist and Terrence Howard as a jazz musician who introduces Fellini to the scene. No word on when lensing will begin, but we presume it will be very soon. [Deadline]
The coldest and most insincere actress of all time portraying the sweetest and most simple one? Confused… How will they deal with the fact that Arianda is 6 feet tall and Masina known for her incredibley small stature? Very distasteful disgraceful casting … It makes me think film in America has died.
This does sound like it has great potential. "Panic" was a good debut a decade ago, I wonder who would be lensing it though. For Fellini and this dreamlike synopsis, the visuals will be key.
I'm very excited about this. The plot sounds like it could be pretty spectacular, and the cast is filled with good talent. I'm most excited about Dinklage.