Today Variety confirms what filmmaker George Ratliff told IONCINEMA.com back in July (read our Q & A with Ratliff here). During his press tour for Sundance film festival favorite Joshua, Ratliff let us know that he was zoning in on his next project End Zone. Today the trades share some pre-production good news – Josh Hartnett, Sam Rockwell and Kat Dennings are set to star in the book to film adaptation.
Scripted by Ratliff and David Gilbert, this is based on Don DeLillo novel and will see Hartnett play a gifted running back who is fumbling his attempts to acclimate to stardom. Dennings plays a student who captivates the jock. Rockwell plays the school's excitable publicist. Another pivotal character is that of a teacher of international terrorism and mass destruction who sees the running back as the perfect soldier/student.
This will be Rockwell's second time out with Ratliff – who did a great job at bringing out the brilliant side of Rockwell in the horror-comedy noir pic. Filming shall begin in the new year – we'll keep an eye on it as it goes into lensing in February in New Mexico. Fennell of ATO Pictures will produce with financing coming from the 12th Floor Film Fund. Future looks right for Ratliff.
