Fox joins Anderson on 'Darjeeling'
By Nicole Sperling and Borys Kit
Fox Searchlight is getting into the Wes Anderson business. The Fox specialty division will be the home of the writer-director's latest project, "The Darjeeling Limited," which will star Anderson vets Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and Adrien Brody. Principal photography is set to begin at year's end in India.
The three will play brothers on a spiritual journey through India after the death of their father.
"Darjeeling" is based on a screenplay from Anderson, Schwartzman and Roman Coppola. Anderson and Coppola will serve as producers on the film.
Searchlight specializes in offbeat, quirky fare, which happens to be Anderson's trademark. Anderson's previous films, "Rushmore," "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou," were all made for Touchstone Pictures under the guidance of Nina Jacobson, former president of the Walt Disney Motion Picture Group.
Scott Rudin is producing through his Scott Rudin Prods. shingle in addition to Lydia Pilcher and her Cine Mosaic label. Pilcher recently partnered with Searchlight on Mira Nair's "The Namesake," also an India-based production based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri.
Wilson has appeared in all of Anderson's films, going back to his debut, "Bottle Rocket." He also co-wrote "Rocket," "Rushmore" and "Tenenbaums."
Schwartzman starred in "Rushmore." He will next be seen in Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette."
Brody, the newcomer to the Anderson fold, will next be seen in "Hollywoodland."
Anderson, Schwartzman and Wilson are repped by UTA and attorney Bob Wallerstein. Brody is repped by CAA.