Bill Pohlad, Academy Award-nominated producer, is set to direct Love & Mercy with Paul Dano (Looper, Ruby Sparks, There Will Be Blood) starring as legendary musician Brian Wilson in his early years. Pohlad is also casting an actor to play Brian Wilson later in his life.
Academy Award-winning composer Atticus Ross (The Social Network) is in talks to work on the sound design of the film and the soundtrack, which will include the music of Brian Wilson.
“I am thrilled that Paul Dano has signed on to play me during one of my most creative explosions and most fulfilling musical times in my career, said Brian Wilson. I still can’t believe how cool it is that my life will be portrayed on the big screen and to have Bill Pohlad as the captain of the Sloop John B is amazing! It just makes me feel so humble. I can’t wait to see it with a full tub of buttered popcorn.”
John Wells and Claire Rudnick Polstein (John Wells Productions) will produce along with River Road founder Bill Pohlad. Oren Moverman, who co-wrote and directed The Messenger, which earned him an Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Screenplay, wrote the script for Love & Mercy.
River Road Entertainment and John Wells Productions are aggressively developing Love & Mercy, which centers on the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys. Rather than a bio pic, the film will take an unconventional look at seminal moments in Wilsons life, his artistic genius, his profound struggles, and the love that kept him alive.
The film marks a return to directing for Pohlad, who prior to forming River Road Entertainment, wrote, directed and co-produced his first feature film, Old Explorers, starring veteran actors Jose Ferrer and James Whitmore. Pohlad began his career directing and producing numerous commercial and documentary film projects. His early documentary film credits included profiles of the rock star Prince, the late Hall of Fame baseball player Kirby Puckett, and Irish theater director Joe Dowling.
