Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, Clifton Collins Jr. Join Black Bear’s Denis Johnson Adaptation ‘Train Dreams’ (EXCLUSIVE)

On May 2, 2024By Vaseline

Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”), William H. Macy (“Fargo,” “Shameless”) and Clifton Collins Jr. (“Jockey,” “Capote”) have joined director Clint Bentley’s “Train Dreams,” Variety has learned.

Production on the Black Bear film, also starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, began earlier this month in Spokane, Wash.

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“Train Dreams” is the compelling and poignant story of Robert Grainier (Edgerton), a day laborer who works as a logger and helps expand the railroads across America. Forced to spend extended periods of time away from his wife Gladys (Jones) and their young daughter, Grainier struggles to understand his place in a rapidly changing world. As his story unfolds, he experiences great love, unspeakable loss, and unique bonds on a journey that is both unique and universal. The image features a script by Bentley and Greg Kwedar (“Sing Sing”), which is based on the iconic Pulitzer Prize-nominated novella of the same name by Denis Johnson. Damien Ober wrote an earlier draft of the script.

The film is produced by Marissa McMahon and Ashley Schlaifer for Kamala Films, Teddy Schwarzman and Michael Heimler for Black Bear, and Will Janowitz. Black Bear’s Edgerton, Kwedar, Scott Hinckley and John Friedberg serve as executive producers. Black Bear fully financed the project and is handling international sales. WME Independent represents US rights.

Condon has been on a roll since winning a BAFTA and nabbing an Oscar nomination for her role in “The Banshees of Inisherin.” She is currently filming Joseph Kosinski’s as-yet-untitled F1 film with Brad Pitt and will soon be seen in “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” opposite Jude Law on Disney+. Macy, who earned an Oscar nomination for “Fargo,” will next star in the upcoming “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” Meanwhile, “Train Dreams” marks the third collaboration between Collins Jr. and director Bentley and writer Kwedar. He will next be seen in A24’s “Eddington” by Ari Aster.

Condon is repped by CAA, the Curtis Brown Group, Framework Entertainment and Gang, Tire, Ramer, Brown & Passman. Macy is represented by Independent Artist Group and Atlas Artists. Collins Jr. is represented by CAA, MGMT Entertainment and Yorn, Levine, Barnes, Krintzman, Rubenstein, Kohner, Endlich, Goodell & Gellman.

The Black Bear list includes the Sydney Sweeney horror vehicle “Immaculate,” which Neon released last month; Lionsgate’s Guy Ritchie’s “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” starring Henry Cavill, also currently in theaters; and “Nyad, starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, both of whom were nominated for an Oscar for their roles. Upcoming films include Greg Kwedar’s “Sing Sing” starring Oscar nominee Colman Domingo of A24; David Ayer’s “Levon’s Trade” starring Jason Statham; “Relay” from director David Mackenzie, starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James; and Matthew McConaughey crime thriller “The Rivals of Amziah King.”

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