Lionsgate acquires Genius, starring Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, more

Lionsgate has acquired the rights to a film based on the story of author Thomas Wolfe’s relationship with a revered editor, and it comes with a star-studded cast.

From Cannes, Lionsgate announced that it has purchased the U.S. rights to Genius, a film starring Jude Law as Wolfe and Colin Firth as editor Max Perkins. The film also stars Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Guy Pearce, and Dominic West.

Kidman is set to play Aline Bernstein while Linney will star as Louise Perkins. Reports have stated Pearce will play F. Scott Fitzgerald while West will take on the role of Ernest Hemingway.

The film is based on the book Max Perkins: Editor of a Genius, written by A. Scott Berg, and will focus on Wolfe and Perkins’ friendship. John Logan (The Aviator) is adapting the book and Tony Award-winning theater director Michael Grandage (Frost/Nixon) will make his feature film debut.

No release date has been set for the film.