Aubrey Plaza Joins Hal Hartley's 'Ned Rifle'

It's been five years since Hal Hartley's Fay Grim, the second leg of his planned serio-comic trilogy that began with 1997's Henry Fool, and the final chapter is shaping up quite nicely. Aubrey Plaza will be taking on the female lead in Ned Rifle, as Henry Fool's (the returning Thomas Jay Ryan) long lost flame, Susan. Parker Posey is back as Fay Grim, and so are Liam Aiken and James Urbaniak as Ned and Simon Grim. The supporting cast includes Martin Donovan, Karen Sillas, Robert John Burke, and William Sage. These films tend to take unexpected turns, so it will be interesting to see where this one goes. Fay Grim suddenly became an espionage movie, and judging by Hartley's description this one will be just as out there....

"In this swiftly paced conclusion, Henry and Fay’s son, Ned, played by Liam Aiken, turns 18 and leaves a witness protection program. (“Rifle” is his maternal grandmother’s maiden name—he’s incognito). His mom has spent the last four years in military custody for alleged terrorist activities (see Fay Grim, 2007) and is transferred to a federal penitentiary to serve a life sentence. Ned, who has absorbed the Christianity of the well adjusted and devout family he has been living with, nevertheless sets out to find and kill his dad, Henry Fool, for the mess the man has made of Fay’s life. But his aims are frustrated by the brilliant, sexy, and troubled Susan, whose connection to Henry predates even the great man’s arrival in the lives of the Grim family."

Sounds perfect for Plaza, who has been using the indie world to expand beyond her usual droll, deadpan sense of humor. The Kickstarter-funded Ned Rifle should begin shooting next month and hit the festival circuit later this year. [Variety]