While not quite on the level of Martin Scorsese/Leonardo DiCaprio as a director/actor duo, the combination of Jeff Nichols and Michael Shannon has produced some great movies. The two have already teamed up four times in Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter, Mud, and next year's Midnight Special, and with Nichols beginning work on his next film, Loving, Shannon is once again by his side.
The Wrap reports Shannon has joined Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga in the film based on the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple who challenged laws preventing interracial marriage. Also coming aboard are Nick Kroll, Jon Bass, Marton Csokas, and Bill Camp in the film which draws inspiration from Nancy Buirski's terrific documentary, The Loving Story. Richard and Mildred were married in 1958, only to have authorities arrest them and sentence them to a year in prison. Their sentence was suspended as long as they agreed to leave the state of Virginia, which they did and spent the next decade fighting to return home.
Shannon won't be a villain for once and instead will play LIFE magazine photographer Gary Villet. Production on Loving is underway now and hopefully this will be in theaters next year. Shannon will be seen next in 99 Homes (review here) opening this week.
