New York Magazine’s Vulture first broke the news that Kristen landed the lead female role in the adaptation of the 1950′s novel ‘Lie Down in Darkness’ by William Styron. Following this report, The Hollywood Reporter clarified that Kristen is attached to the role of Peyton Loftis in this indie film, described as Dickensian and Dostoyevsky-like heavy drama that charts the rise of a Southern family. The Loftis family includes a drunken patriarch who lusts after one of his two daughters, a frigid mother and two daughters- one beautiful, the other a cripple.
What made this scoop so exciting to Kristen’s fans is that Ms. Stewart raved about the role of Peyton during her recent interview with Elle Magazine. Kristen said, “I want to play Peyton more than anything I can possibly taste or touch in my life. I want to play her so bad. Peyton is bright, beautiful, suicidal narcissist, preyed upon by her father.”
However, THR also notes, “[Kristen's] involvement is only an attachment at this point because the project is not financed and has no start date. Sources say financing likely will hinge on the casting of the male lead.” A source close to the production cautioned that the film is in very early development stages, noting, “While it’s exciting to see all the interest the project is generating, the film is still in the pre-production process and no offers to cast have been made as of yet.” Furthermore, Kristen’s agent Ken Kaplan of the Gersh agency further clarified her attached status. Kaplan explained, “This movie is at a very early stage. It is unfinanced and while Kristen is ‘attached’ to play the role, there is no guarantee that, if the movie gets made, she will actually do the role. All of the reporting on this is extremely premature.”
An actor can be attached to a project for years before a film gets the green light. Without financing or a schedule, there is no contract to be negotiated or signed. Often everything works out and an attached actor will ultimately star in the film; i.e., Kristen and her years-spanning attachment to ’On the Road’. But, sometimes schedules don’t work, timing is no longer right or final deals are unable to be met. For example, Kristen was unable to perform in ‘K-11′ despite her initial attachment to the role of ‘Butterfly’ due to other filming commitments. Bottom line? Only time will tell whether this film will be made and whether Kristen ultimately stars in it. We can only hope that when the timing is right Kristen will be able to fulfill her desire to play this role.
