Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams Eyed to Star in Tom Ford’s Thriller ‘Nocturnal Animals’

George Clooney is producing the film, which is also courting Joaquin Phoenix and Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Jake Gyllenhaal to Speak at PGA Produced by: New York Conference
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Jake Gyllenhaal is attached to star in Tom Ford’s thriller “Nocturnal Animals,”while Amy Adams is in early talks to join him, multiple individuals familiar with the project have told TheWrap.

George Clooney and Grant Heslov are producing via their Smokehouse Pictures, though a representative for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ford and the producers are currently out to financiers, and they shouldn’t have a problem finding any now that Oscar nominees Gyllenhaal and Adams are circling the project. There are also offers out to Joaquin Phoenix and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, signaling that Ford has great ambitions for his follow-up to the critically acclaimed drama “A Single Man.”

Described as a “story within a story,” “Nocturnal Animals” would find Adams playing a woman named Susan who receives a book manuscript from her ex-husband (Gyllenhaal), who’s seeking her opinion. The manuscript itself, which is titled “Nocturnal Animals,” follows a man whose family vacation turns deadly and a woman named Susan who confronts some dark truths about herself as she recalls her first marriage.

Ford wrote the script himself, based on Austin Wright’s novel “Tony and Susan,” and the famous fashion designer will also produce with the Smokehouse duo.

Gyllenhaal next stars in Antoine Fuqua’s “Southpaw,” which is expected to pack quite the punch when it hits theaters in July courtesy of the Weinstein Company. He also co-stars in Baltasar Kormakur’s “Everest,” which climbs into theaters in September. Coming off his acclaimed turn in “Nightcrawler,” Gyllenhaal recently wrapped Jean Marc Vallee’s “Demolition,” which is expected to be released in time for awards season but could be pushed to 2016 if the actor’s fall schedule proves too busy to properly promote the film. He’s represented by WME.

Adams is a five-time Oscar nominee who will soon be seen reprising her role as Lois Lane in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” She’s also preparing to start filming the sci-fi movie “Story of Your Life” at Paramount. She’s repped by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.

Variety first reported the news about Gyllenhaal and Adams, while the Hollywood Reporter broke the news of offers to Phoenix and Taylor-Johnson, whose potential roles remain under wraps.

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