Julianne Moore has signed on to topline a re-imagining of Sebastian Lelio’s critically acclaimed “Gloria.” The 2013 Santiago-set drama earned rave reviews and took home three awards at the Berlinale, where it made its world premiere. Paulina Garcia, the film’s star, won the Silver Bear for Best Actress.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, and emphasized that the currently untitled English-language film “won’t be a straight remake,” but “is inspired by the film’s story and characters.” Lelio is set to pen the adaptation.
Scheduled to shoot by the end of the year, the film will center on “a free-spirited woman in her 50s. Though lonely, she makes the best of her situation and fills her nights seeking love at social dance clubs for single adults in Los Angeles,” THR writes. “Her fragile happiness changes the day she meets Arnold. Their intense passion, to which she gives her all, leaves her vacillating between hope and despair, until she uncovers a new strength and realizes that now, surprisingly, she can shine brighter than ever.”
“As one of the greatest actresses in the world, Julianne giving her interpretation of the character is not only a huge honor, it’s irresistible,” said Lelio. “It’s going to be like jazz, you’ll feel the spirit of the original story but it’ll be re-invigorated and vital.”
The project is being produced by Juan de Dios Larraín, who also produced the original. He’s joined by his brother, “Jackie” director Pablo Larraín.
In a statement, Juan de Dios Larraín suggested that women over the the age of 50 lead much richer lives than the media would suggest. “This film tells a fascinating story from one of those thousands of women who try to be happy in their 50s, where an apparently boring life can be fascinating, erotic, fun, and complex,” he said. While THR doesn’t specify a director, Juan de Dios Larraín seemed to indicate that Lelio, who is writing the script, will also reprise his directing duties. The producer commented, “Julianne Moore can’t be better for the role, with Sebastian in the directing.”
FilmNation Entertainment will launch international sales on the project at the Cannes market, which kicks off May 17.
Moore won an Oscar in 2015 for portraying a linguistics professors diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in “Still Alice.” She previously received nominations for “Far from Heaven,” “The Hours,” “The End of the Affair,” and “Boogie Nights.”
