Zoey Deutch to play Jean Seberg in Linklater’s French New Wave Film: Known for his loosely structured narratives, American filmmaker Richard Linklater is one of the most celebrated filmmakers. Every artist faces that moment in his life where he feels stuck with the idea. Similar was the situation with Linklater’s upcoming project. However, with his expansive vision, he figured out how to bring things on the right track.
For several months now, he has been vaguely teasing the possibility of making a French New Wave film shot in Paris. This was said to be vague since, initially, the details regarding the project were uncertain. While the suspense regarding the project raised intrigue among cinephiles, they also became unsure about its inception. Now, Linklater’s project finally shows some progress, giving it shape and hope.
Providing a peek into the upcoming film, People revealed the first look of Zoey Deutch, who has been cast as French New Wave actress Jean Seberg. Seberg was an American actress who was considered an icon of the French New Wave for her performance in Jean-Luc Godard’s groundbreaking 1960 film “Breathless.” Her chic haircut instantly made her a fashion icon of her time, and the trend continues. After gaining widespread recognition with “Breathless,” she starred in numerous films. Nevertheless, her name was eternally associated with Godard’s French New Wave classic.
Figuring out the character look for Deutch wasn’t very easy and has a tale of its own. During an interview with People, Linklater shared, “Our work was cut out for us, as most of the photos we could find of Jean were in black and white — but we settled on a soft, golden blonde color that really captures Jean’s essence.” Linklater’s keen eye for detailing is commendable. Since Seberg was an American actress working in France at the time, Linklater’s decision to cast Deutch seems wise.
The details of the film are under wraps as of now. However, some information has been revealed regarding the upcoming project. The film has not come up with a title yet. There are unconfirmed reports that the film will be called Nouvelle Vague, aka New Wave. Initially, the idea of making the film was to adapt “Breathless.” But recent developments, including casting notices, hint at a more expansive exploration of the French New Wave movement. The casting specifically requests actors who resemble a young Jean-Pierre Léaud, as seen in François Truffaut’s “The 400 Blows,” and Martin Lassale, known for his role in Robert Bresson’s “Pickpocket” (1959).
The French New Wave is an art film movement that emerged in the late 1950s. The movement was characterized by its rejection of traditional filmmaking conventions in favor of experimentation and a spirit of iconoclasm. Considered one of the most influential movements in the history of cinema, filmmakers like Godard, Agnes Varda, and Truffaut explored new approaches to editing, visual style, and narrative, as well as engagement with the social and political upheavals of the era, often making use of irony or exploring existential themes.
Earlier, during an interview conversation with filmmaker Gregg Araki, Linklater gave a brief tease of the film’s existence. He said, “I’m hoping to make a film [in Paris]. In French. It’s like a New Wave film. I hope to [have French actors in it].”
