Richard Jenkins Joins Drama 'One Square Mile' (Exclusive)

Richard Jenkins will star in the drama One Square Mile as a reclusive track coach who forms bond with a young man (Cameron Bright) from the wrong side of the tracks whose path out of poverty is to become an outstanding runner.

The busy Jenkins is onscreen in Darling Companion and The Cabin in the Woods. His other recent credits include Friends With Benefits and Eat Pray Love. Jenkins was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his starring turn in The Visitor in 2008.

Bright, a 19-year-old Canadian, is likely best known for his appearances in Twilight movies New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn -- Part 1 as Alec, a member of the Volturi clan and twin brother to Dakota Fanning's Jane. He will reprise his role in this year's Breaking Dawn -- Part 2. His other roles include Godsend, Running Scared and X-Men: The Last Stand.

The $5 million production of One Square Mile will be the first English-language movie from French Canadian director Charles-Olivier Michaud since Snow & Ashes won the Grand Jury Sparky Award as best narrative film at the 2010 Slamdance. The Quebec native most recently directed Sur le Rythme, a French-language romance film.

Principal photography is scheduled to begin in August, likely in Seattle.

One Square Mile was written by Josh Campbell and Jeff Van Wie. It is being produced by Howard Burd and Micah Sparks of Phoenix Rising Motion Pictures and Deborah Moore of Inner Primary Entertainment. Martin Harmon is executive producing for Phoenix Rising Motion Pictures.

“We felt the writers always had Richard in mind when we were developing the script, and we couldn’t be happier now that he is on board,” said Burd. “Having Cameron Bright play opposite Richard is a strong acting combination that will produce a compelling and inspirational film.”
 
There is no domestic theatrical deal in place yet. International sales are being handled by Lawrence Meyers, Bobby Meyers and Peter Rowley of Meyers Media Group, which was formed \this year to finance and produce movies as well as handle foreign rights.

They will be offering it for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival in May.