The Island – the first film production to be sunk by the actors’ strike – may be resurrected after all, according to reports.
Nothing is confirmed as of yet, but it looks like Pawel Pawlikowski’s suspended film, The Island may yet be brought to life. The project was cancelled on the eve of production: stars Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix – along with the rest of the cast and crew – had arrived at the location when bond companies, spooked by the upcoming strike, refused to insure the film.
Pawlikowski, the director of Cold War and My Summer of Love, has refused to abandon the project, despite fears that Joaquin Phoenix’s busy schedule would rule him out of appearing alongside Mara, his real-life partner. Phoenix has to juggle an untitled Todd Haynes drama and has Ari Aster’s Eddington in the pipeline, not to mention the press demands for Joker: Folie a Deux, his upcoming sequel to 2019’s Joker.
The Cinemaholic is, however, reporting that the production is back on and will shoot in Fuerteventura, Spain. A production schedule hasn’t been announced yet, but filming is expected to begin once the SAG-AFTRA strike ends. The piece also suggests that Phoenix and Mara are still in place to star.
Of course, the future of this project may still depend on exactly when the actors’ strike ends, but it’s good to hear that it’s definitely still alive. We’ll leave you with a synopsis for the film and let you know as soon as we hear more.
‘A couple who decide to move away from civilisation and build a private residence on a remote island. However, a millionaire passing through the island reveals their plans to the world, making the couple a sensation. When a European countess gets to know about the island, she plans to take over the same. This countess and her entourage soon begin to threaten the Eden that the couple has built and battle lines are quickly drawn. Psychological warfare ensues as seduction and jealousy descend into sexual infidelity, betrayal, and eventually murder.’
Read more: BBFC reveals that Joker was its most complained about film of 2019
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