Two-time Oscar winner Jessica Lange and two-time Oscar nominee Naomi Watts are set to star in a feature adaptation of Jean Nathan’s book “The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll,” it was announced Friday by Indigenous Media, the company formed by Jon Avnet, Rodrigo Garcia and Jake Avnet to produce and distribute original content across emerging and traditional platforms.
Gia Coppola, who wrote and directed the indie film “Palo Alto,” is set to direct from a script by Merritt Johnson (“Temple Grandin”), who will adapt the book.
Oscar winner Bruce Cohen (“American Beauty”), and Untitled Entertainment partner Jason Weinberg (“Margin Call”) will produce the film along with Indigenous.
“The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll” is the story of Dare Wright, whose best-selling children’s book “The Lonely Doll” made her a household name in the 1950s. Forty years later, journalist Jean Nathan, in her search for the out-of-print book series, found Wright living in a public hospital in Queens, New York. Nathan’s book pieces together Wright’s bizarre life of glamour and isolation, and her struggle to escape her painful childhood through her art.
“Rodrigo and I have been fans of and have worked with Merritt, Jessica and Naomi before,” said Jon Avnet. “Jean Nathan’s unique piece is a great vehicle for a reunion and chance for Gia Coppola to make a very distinctive film.”
Producers Jon Avnet (“Black Swan”) and Garcia (“Albert Nobbs”) have won Oscar, Emmy and Tony Awards for their work, while Cohen has produced such acclaimed films as “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Milk” and “American Beauty.”
Lange’s next film is “Wild Oats,” and she’ll also be starring on Broadway in “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” which opens in April.
Watts is currently starring in “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” and will soon be seen opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in “Demolition.” Her upcoming films include Colin Trevorrow‘s “The Book of Henry” and the thriller “Shut In.”