Even at 92, Clint Eastwood isn’t ready to slow down as he has set the thriller Juror #2 as his next film, with Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette in negotiations to star. While it isn’t official, sources also add that with schedules and budget figured, Warner Bros. — Eastwood’s longtime studio home — is close to officially greenlighting the film. Jonathan Abrams penned the script. Adam Goodman, Tim Moore and Jessica Meier will produce.
The pic is set during a murder trial where one of the jurors slowly realizes he killed the victim in a reckless-driving accident and tries to save the defendant without incriminating himself. Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Jeremy Bell will exec produce.
In typical Eastwood fashion, the Oscar winner had been weighing several scripts and in recent months zeroed in on Juror #2. He began having talks with A-list talent to star, finally landing on Hoult as the ideal actor for titular role and Collette for the district attorney. Hoult and Collette are as busy as any actors in town, and Hoult needed some scheduling out before he could commit, but insiders now say that’s been sorted out and all things are headed in the direction of a closed deal.
For Warner Bros. Co-Heads Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, the project marks another high-profile film at the studio since taking over last year. Some of the other big projects they have put together as of late include a Frank Bullitt movie with Steven Spielberg directing and Bradley Cooper starring, a sequel to Constantine with Keanu Reeves returning to star and I Am Legend sequel with Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan starring. They also recently won a massive bidding war for T.J. Neuman’s next book Drowning, which Deadline broke the news about over the weekend.
As for Hoult, the Emmy-nominated actor is set to have a big 2023, starting with his horror-action-comedy Renfield bowing today. In the film, he plays Dracula’s infamous henchman, which gives him an opportunity to show off his range in both action and comedy departments. He also has the third season of Hulu’s The Great coming out next month following his acclaimed second season, which earned him an Emmy nom. He most recently was seen in Searchlight’s The Menu, in the scene-stealing role as the boyfriend of Anya Taylor-Joy. He also has the Justin Kurzel pic The Order and is currently filming Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu movie.
Collette also has been quite busy as her Mafia Mamma hits theaters today, and she also recently was seen in The Estate.
Hoult is repped by UTA and 42, and Collette is with CAA and United Management. Abrams is repped by Mosaic and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.
