Richard Linklater’s ‘Blue Moon’ Secures Deal with Sony Pictures Classics

If you find yourself drooling in the world of Richard Linklater’s fictional world, then this news is for you. Sony Pictures Classics has acquired worldwide rights to Linklater’s new film, “Blue Moon.” The production is set to begin in Dublin, Ireland, in early July. The film will mark the ninth collaboration between Linklater’s frequent collaborator, Ethan Hawke. Others aboard for roles include Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”), Bobby Cannavale (“Ezra”), and Andrew Scott (“Ripley”).

What is Richard Linklater’s upcoming project all about?

Richard Linklater is known for making films that deal thematically with suburban culture and the effects of the passage of time. His films are noted for their loosely structured narratives. Now, the director is bringing his new creation, “Blue Moon.”

The project is penned by Robert Kaplow, author of the novel “Me and Orson Welles,” which inspired the theme of Linklater’s upcoming film. “Blue Moon” profiles the final days of Lorenz Hart, part of the hit songwriting team Rodgers & Hart. The film is set primarily in Sardi’s Restaurant on March 31, 1943, the opening night of Oklahoma!, which marked Rodgers’s first collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein II as Hart’s replacement.

Linklater previously hinted at this long-time passion project with Hawke, noting, “Robert, Ethan, and I have been developing this story for over a decade and are excited and grateful that the time has come to bring this to life.”

The movie not only marks the reunion of Hawke and Linklater, but it will also reunite Sony Pictures and Linklater, who previously collaborated on the director’s first film, “Slacker.” The partnership continued with “Suburbia” and “Before Midnight.” The distributor is also well acquainted with Hawke, having released his films “Before Midnight,” “Maggie’s Plan,” “Maudie,” and most recently, “Strange Way of Life” by Pedro Almodóvar.

Sony Pictures Classics added in its own statement:

“Almost a year ago, Rick, Ethan, and John reached out to us with Robert Kaplow’s amazing script Blue Moon. Helping them over the following months to bring it together has been incredibly exciting and now, on the verge of production, with this fantastic cast and crew in place and Rick at the helm, we are thrilled to finally announce it and bring the film to audiences everywhere in the world.”

Linklater will share producer credits on “Blue Moon” with Mike Blizzard and John Sloss. The film, produced by Detour/Renovo in association with Wild Atlantic Pictures, Under the Influence, and Cinetic Media, will have executive producer credits going to Macdara Kelleher, Donna Eperon, John Keville, David Kingland, Lisa Crnic, Aaron Wiederspahn, and Steven Farneth. Sony Pictures Classics will support the production, with Sony set to release the film worldwide.