Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, and Candice Bergen are teaming up. The trio will star in “Book Club,” an indie comedy about lifelong friends in their 60s whose worlds are rocked by Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. The women’s lives are changed after they read E.L. James’ erotic best-seller “50 Shades of Grey” as part of their monthly book club. Deadline broke the news.
The source elaborates, “50 Shades” “is not the type of book” that the pals gravitate towards, “but as they soon find out, inspiration can come in the most unlikely of places.” Women over the age of 60 are rarely depicted on-screen, so it’s exciting to see a project led by three actresses in this age bracket.
Set in and around California, “Book Club” is currently in pre-production. Erin Simms and Bill Holderman penned the script, and the latter will direct. “Book Club” will mark Holderman’s directorial debut. We don’t know if Simms had an interest in helming the project, but it’s important to note that women rarely have the opportunity to direct such a high-profile project with a star-studded cast their first time behind the camera.
Between the three of them, Keaton, Fonda, and Bergen have received 12 Academy Award nominations. Keaton took home an Oscar in 1978 for “Annie Hall,” and Fonda won in 1971 for “Klute” and in 1979 for “Coming Home.”
Keaton’s recent credits include “The Young Pope,” “Finding Dory,” and “Love the Coopers.” Fonda stars alongside Lily Tomlin in “Grace and Frankie,” co-created by Marta Kauffman (“Friends”). Netflix recently renewed the comedy for a fourth season. Bergen was last seen in “Rules Don’t Apply” and appears in Hallie Meyers-Shyer’s upcoming Reese Witherspoon-starrer “Home Again.” The romantic comedy hits theaters September 8.
