Overture Sets Deal in ‘Stone’

I’ve sort of lost track of this project since it was first announced as a possible The Deer Hunter reunion between Robert De and Meryl Streep. A lot has changed since this first announcement. De Niro and Edward Norton remained on board but the supporting actresses were changed for Frances Conroy and Milla Jovovich. Today, John Curran’s dramatic-thriller has a confirmed release next year with Overture swooping up domestic rights.  

Based on Angus MacLachlan’s play, Stone centers on a convicted arsonist, portrayed by Norton, who looks to manipulate a parole officer, played by De Niro, into a plan to secure his parole by placing his beautiful wife (Jovovich) in the lawman’s path. The two characters become romantically linked and have a highly charged sexual relationship. The screenplay is also penned by MacLachlan who might be best known for Junebug. This is also Norton second project with Curran. 

Curran, who helmed We Don’t Live Here Anymore (2004) and The Painted Veil (2006), will next direct The Beautiful and the Damned, which looks to be close to production.