Zac Efron will star in “The Paperboy”, reports THR from Cannes, joining a cast that also includes Matthew McConaughey, Tobey Maguire and Sofia Vergara. Based on the 1995 novel by Peter Dexter, the film has been in development for over a decade by Dexter and Pedro Almodovar. Oscar nominated director Lee Daniels jumped on board early this year to make his follow-up to 2009′s Awards juggernaut “Precious”.
The story follows a Miami Times reporter who returns to his hometown to investigate the murder of a local sheriff. Logically, McConaughey or Maguire would play the reporter, with the other playing the death row inmate currently convicted of the murder. Efron plays the reporter’s younger brother who gets roped into the action, and Vergara is the inmate’s wife.
Back in February, offers had been made to Bradley Cooper and Alex Pettyfer for the brothers, along with Vergara, who is the only holdover. However, the production team seems happy with the new developments, with Millenium Films and Nu Image currently handling international sales at Cannes. “This is a good film for us,” says producer Avi Lerner, “a project that has Pedro Almodovar attached, is set in the steamy South, directed by Lee Daniels, Hilary Shor producing, and with the incredible cast of Matthew, Tobey, Sofia and Zac.”
Still hoping to get out from under the shadow of the “High School Musical” Disney image that made him a star, Efron has been signing on for distinctly more serious and adult roles as of late, though he made a slight turn for the light-hearted in the recently completed ensemble comedy “New Year’s Eve” for Gary Marshall. He is attached to an untitled romantic actioner for Mandate Pictures previously titled “The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman” and also has “The Lucky One”, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, in the can awaiting release.
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