Cameron Crowe has an all-star lineup ready for his new film, We Bought a Zoo, based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee. The real-life drama marks the Oscar-winning director’s return to the big screen since Elizabethtown in 2005. Hit the jump for more details on this highly anticipated film!
One by one, casting news has been revealed to eager movie bloggers. According to Collider, the cast includes Matt Damon (Hereafter) as Benjamin Mee; Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers) who‘ll play Kelly, Mee’s love interest; Elle Fanning (Somewhere) as Lily; Thomas Haden Church (Easy A) as Benjamin’s brother, Duncan; Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous) as a zoo employee; Angus McFadden (Braveheart) as the head zookeeper; John Michael Higgins (Yes Man) who plays a state zoo inspector who has it in for Mee; Colin Ford (TV’s Supernatural); and J.B. Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm), just to name a few.
The Hollywood Reporter reveals that “The movie is based on a memoir by Benjamin Mee, who used his life savings to buy a dilapidated zoo, replete with 200 exotic animals facing destruction, in the English countryside. Mee, along with his children, had to balance caring for his wife, who was dying of brain cancer, with dealing with escaped tigers, raising endangered animals, working with an eclectic skeleton crew and readying the zoo for a reopening.”
Crowe, who’s best known for writing and directing Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, and Vanilla Sky, not only takes on directorial duty for We Bought a Zoo, but also co-wrote the screenplay with Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada, 27 Dresses, & Laws of Attraction).
CinemaBlend reports that the film had started filming in Los Angeles this past week, adding that Higgins’ character suffers “a loud and active stomach.” Set for release late this year, AceShowBiz claims December 23 is the premiere date, but at this point in the game, things could change. Check out these photos below of Damon on set, fresh off an appearance at this year’s Golden Globes, courtesy of Collider. What do you think of these casting decisions? Are you excited to see Crowe’s big return?
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