TIFF: Nicholas Hoult to Play J.D. Salinger in Danny Strong’s ‘Rebel in the Rye’

Nicholas Hoult will play author J.D. Salinger in Danny Strong‘s upcoming drama Rebel in the Rye.

Strong wrote the screenplay, an adaptation of Kenneth Slawenski biography, J.D. Salinger: A Life, and he will also direct the film.

The movie tells the story of the birth of Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. The legendary writer soared to the heights of the literary world but left it all behind for a life of seclusion.

Black Label Media is financing with Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill and Thad Luckinbill producing alongside Bruce Cohen, Jason Shuman and Strong.

Bloom will introduce the project to foreign buyers at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival, while CAA is repping the North American rights.

“The Catcher in the Rye is a classic coming of age story which continues to make a significant impression six generations later,” said Bloom’s Alex Walton. “The world has long been fascinated with J.D. Salinger, who the talented Nicholas Hoult will bring to life, in this enigmatic role.”

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Strong co-created Fox’s hit series Empire, and has written and directed several episodes of the musical drama. He has written the screenplays for The Butler, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Part 2 and HBO Films’ Recount and Game Change. He’s repped by CAA, Sweeney Entertainment and Jackoway Tyerman.

Hoult was most recently seen in Mad Max: Fury Road and Dark Places, both with Charlize Theron. He’ll be seen in sci-fi drama Equals opposite Kristen Stewart, which will screen in Toronto. His other upcoming projects include X-Men: Apocalypse.

He’s repped by UTA and Felker Toczek.