Two guaranteed-to-be-quirky indie films have just entered production, and with it come the full reveal of their casts. First up is Todd Solondz's Wiener-Dog, which serves as a semi-sequel to his cult classic, Welcome to the Dollhouse. Greta Gerwig was previously cast to take over the role of Dawn Wiener (Heather Matarrazzo isn't returning), and now Julie Delpy's role has been confirmed, along with new additions Brie Larson, Zosia Mamet, Kieran Culkin, Danny DeVito, Ellen Burstyn, and Tracy Letts. The film will center on a group of people whose lives are changed or inspired by a dachshund hound. How this fits into Dawn Wiener's story considering she died in Solondz's film, Palindromes, is still unclear. It's also a mystery how the heck Gerwig could ever in a million years look anything like Matarrazzo.
And shooting has also begun on Wilson,the long-awaited adaptation of the comic by Ghost World and Art School Confidential creator, Daniel Clowes. Craig Johnson (The Skeleton Twins) is directing with Alexander Payne (once eyed to direct) and Sam Raimi as a producers, with Woody Harrelson already set to play the angry, opinionated, middle-aged misanthrope. Laura Dern plays his drug addict ex-wife, while Isabelle Amara plays the teenage daughter he never met, and Judy Greer and Cheryl Hines have supporting roles.
