Laura Dern - S 2015
Yu TsaiTwo-time Academy Award nominee Laura Dern is in negotiations to star opposite Michael Keaton in The Founder, the drama detailing the rise of the McDonald’s fast food empire.
John Lee Hancock is directing the drama, which is being produced by Aaron Ryder of FilmNation and Jeremy Renner and Don Handfield via their banner, The Combine.
The Weinstein Co. is releasing the film (it’s set for a Nov. 25, 2016 ,opening) and is co-financing.
Written by Robert Siegel (Big Fan), The Founder is a drama that tells the true story of how Ray Kroc (Keaton), a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. He maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire.
Dern will play Ethel Kroc, Kroc’s first wife who suffers through his business schemes and whom he neglects.
Dern received an Oscar nomination for her work opposite Reese Witherspoon in Jean-Marc Vallee’s Wild. She recently wrapped production on an untitled drama from Kelly Reichardt, which also stars Kristen Stewart and Michelle Williams, and will next be seen in 99 Homes opposite Andrew Garfield. The drama unspools Sept. 25.
Dern is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Gang, Tyre.
