The Broken Circle Breakdown came out of nowhere a couple of years ago and put director Felix van Groeningen on the map. The heartbreaking Belgian film about a bluegrass couple earned him an Oscar nomination, but little has been heard from him since. Now he's taking on what should be his most high-profile work yet in Beautiful Boy, a project that Cameron Crowe nearly brought to the big screen.
Variety reports Groeningen will direct the adaptation of David Sheff's memoir, Beautiful Boy: a Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction, which centers on a father as he watches his son struggle with meth addiction. Nic Sheff's book Tweak: Growing Up On Methamphetamines will also comprise some of the material screenwriter Luke Davies (Life) will draw from.
Cameron Crowe had been developing the film to direct himself, going so far as to begin talks with Mark Wahlberg for a starring role. But that fell through and Crowe decided to direct Aloha instead (bad call, Ripley!). Brad Pitt is on board as a producer, and casting is expected to get underway soon.
