Todd Solondz breakout film, 1995's Welcome to the Dollhouse, set the course for the dark, satirical character studies that would define his career. He seems to specialize in exploring taboo subject matter, as he would go on to do with Happiness, Storytelling, Palindromes, and Life During Wartime. And the characters he's created remain memorable, even as other actors have gone on to portray them. Without a doubt the one that stands out most is Dawn Wiener , who was mercilessly teased for being ugly in 'Dollhouse', played by a young Heather Matarrazzo in an Indie Spirit Award-winning performance. While that character supposedly committed suicide in Palindromes, Solondz has found a way to bring her back in his next film.
THR reports that Greta Gerwig will play the adult-aged Dawn Wiener in Wiener-Dog, which Solondz has quietly been developing for years. Julie Delpy is also in talks to join the ensemble which is tied together thematically by a dachshund hound inspiring and changing the lives of those it encounters. One of the stories being told will follow a grown-up Dawn Wiener, although that's all the detail we have on it. No word on who else could be involved but Matarrazzo will not be coming back. She hasn't had a major feature film role since 2007's Hostel II.
But really, Greta Gerwig as Dawn Wiener? That's an odd choice unless Solondz plans to completely ignore her fate in Palindromes when it was revealed she got pregnant, went to college, and killed herself. Plus, isn't Gerwig a little too pretty for the part, or is her transformation from ugly ducking to beauty what Solondz plans to cover? I'm very interested in seeing where this goes.
