Cannes: J.K. Simmons, Emile Hirsch to Star in ‘The Runaround’ (Exclusive)

Newly minted Oscar winner J.K. Simmons and Emile Hirsch have signed on to star in The Runaround, a comedy that will be directed by Gavin Wiesen.

Seth W. Owen wrote the screenplay, which centers on a workaholic father (Simmons) who attempts to visit his daughter during a last-minute layover in Los Angeles only to discover that she’s disappeared. He’s forced to team up with her awkward ex-boyfriend (Hirsch) to find her over the course of one night.

Spring Pictures’ Mandy Tagger Brockey and Adi Ezroni are producing with American Film Productions’ George Voskericyan and J.M.R. Luna, Wing and a Prayer Pictures’ Ron Perlman and Josh Crook, and P. Jennifer Dana.

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The project, which is being produced in association with Abbolita Films and Heretic Films, is slated to shoot in Los Angeles in July. The Solution Entertainment Group is handling international rights, and will present it to buyers in Cannes. The Gersh Agency and UTA, which arranged the financing, are co-repping North American rights.

“The producers have assembled a top-notch cast including J.K. Simmons, who is on everyone’s wish list after wowing audiences everywhere with his Oscar-winning performance in Whiplash, and the versatile Emile Hirsch on board. The script is a wildly entertaining ride from start to finish and we can’t wait to bring this film to audiences,” said Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel, co-founders and partners of The Solution Entertainment Group.

Simmons is fresh off his Oscar and Golden Globe wins for his intense portrayal of an abusive jazz band instructor in Whiplash. His upcoming projects include this summer’s Terminator Genisys, and The Accountant, opposite Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick. He’s currently shooting The Meddler with Susan Sarandon and Rose Byrne. He’s repped by Gersh.

Hirsch’s recent films include Lone Survivor and Prince Avalanche. He will next be seen in The Solution’s Sundance selection Ten Thousand Saints with Ethan Hawke, which will be be released later this year, and Vincent-N-Roxxy, opposite Zoe Kravitz. He’s repped by UTA and Sloane, Offer.

Wiesen’s feature film debut, The Art of Getting By, which starred Emma Roberts and Freddie Highmore, premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures. He’s repped by Gersh.

Owen’s 2014 Black List script, Morgan, has been greenlit at Fox with Kate Mara attached. Ridley Scott is producing the project, which starts shooting in June in Ireland. He’s repped by WME and Apostle Management’s George Heller.