Last September it was revealed that Nicholas Hoult had signed on to star in a biopic of writer J.D. Salinger called Rebel In The Eye. Now he’s got some company, as Variety reports that Kevin Spacey will co-star.
It’s previously been promised that the film ‘takes us on a journey into the life and mind of the legendary and secretive author and tells the story of the birth of The Catcher in the Rye. As the author who captivated a generation, JD Salinger soared to the heights of the literary world but left it all behind for a life of seclusion. Through his rebellious youth, the bloody front lines of World War 2, enduring great love and terrible loss, a life of rejection to the pages of The New Yorker, and the PTSD-fueled writer’s block which led to a spiritual awakening.’
Spacey meanwhile will be Whit Burnett, a professor at Columbia and editor of Story Magazine, who becomes Salinger’s mentor and challenges him to become a better writer.
Danny Strong (who co-created Empire and wrote the scripts for the likes of Hunger Games: Mockingjay and The Butler) will write and direct the movie. It’s believed the movie will shoot some time fairly soon.
Other than for writing Catcher In The Rye, author JD Salinger is mainly known for not writing a huge amount else and also being a bit of a recluse. However now Rebel In The Rye wants to take us into his life and what led to him creating the infamous Holden Caulfield.