Directed by James Ponsoldt | Music by Danny Elfman | |
Produced by Anthony Bregman
Gary Goetzman
Tom Hanks
James Ponsoldt Screenplay by James Ponsoldt
Dave Eggers Based on The Circle
by Dave Eggers Starring Emma Watson
Tom Hanks
John Boyega
Karen Gillan
Ellar Coltrane
Patton Oswalt
Glenne Headly
Bill Paxton | ||
The Circle is an upcoming American film directed by James Ponsoldt, written by Ponsoldt and Dave Eggers, and based on Eggers' 2013 novel of the same name. The film stars Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, John Boyega, Karen Gillan, Ellar Coltrane, Patton Oswalt, Glenne Headly and Bill Paxton. Principal photography began on September 11, 2015, in Los Angeles.
Contents
It will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 26, 2017. The film is scheduled to be released on April 28, 2017, by EuropaCorp and STX Entertainment.
Premise
A young tech worker (Emma Watson) takes a job at a powerful Internet corporation, quickly rises up the company's ranks, and soon finds herself in a perilous situation concerning privacy, surveillance and freedom. She comes to learn that her decisions and actions will determine the future of humanity.
Cast
Casting and financing
On December 15, 2014, Deadline reported that Tom Hanks would be next starring in the film adaptation of Dave Eggers' 2013 novel The Circle, while James Ponsoldt would write the script and also direct the film. No studios and financiers were attached at the time, but Hanks and Gary Goetzman would be producing the film through Playtone. In January 2015, THR confirmed that Anthony Bregman would produce the film through his banner Likely Story along with Ponsoldt, Hanks and Goetzman. On May 11, 2015, it was announced that Image Nation Abu Dhabi would fully finance the film together with Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, while IM Global would handle the international sales. On May 11, 2015, Alicia Vikander was set to star in the film. On May 20, 2015, IM Global sold the rights to different independent territories in the world at 2015 Cannes Film Festival. On May 23, 2015, Deadline revealed that producers offered Emma Watson the role of the female lead in the film as Vikander was likely to drop off the project due to scheduling conflicts after the announcement that she was in talks to join two films: Jason Bourne and Assassin's Creed. In mid-June 2015, director Ponsoldt confirmed during an interview that Vikander would not be starring in the film and Watson was not officially on board but she would be one possibility to star in the film, while shooting would take place in September and October. Later on June 23, 2015, Vikander was confirmed for Bourne 5, so she was officially out of the project. On June 24, 2015, Variety confirmed that Watson was officially set to play the lead role of Mae Holland in the film. On August 19, 2015, John Boyega was added to the cast of the film to play Kalden, a mysterious man Mae encounters at work. On September 1, 2015, Karen Gillan was cast in the film to play Annie, a warm, cute and intelligent member of The Circle. On September 11, 2015, Patton Oswalt joined the cast to play Tom Stenton, an Italian and one of three founders of the Circle. On September 16, 2015, Bill Paxton joined the film for an unspecified role, which would ultimately be his final film role due to his death from complications following heart surgery in February 2017. On September 29, 2015, Ellar Coltrane joined the cast of the film portraying the role of Mercer.
Filming
Principal photography on the film began on September 11, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. On September 17, filming was taking place in Pasadena. Reshoots were done in January 2017.
Release
In February 2016, EuropaCorp acquired U.S and Canadian distribution rights to the film. STX Entertainment will co-distribute the film alongside EuropaCorp, It will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 26, 2017. The film is scheduled to be released on April 28, 2017.