Blake Draper will star as the sole actor in “A. Rimbaud,” a biopic about French poet Arthur Rimbaud from writer-director Patrick Wang.
Draper recently starred in the Disney+ romantic comedy “Prom Pact” and Netflix’s “Clickbait.” He previously starred in Australian series “Bad Mothers” and “Neighbors.”
The film, which wrapped production in Winnipeg this week, follows the writer from his schoolboy days in Charleville to his final years in Africa. As Rimbaud explored and broke with traditional forms of poetry, the movie likewise escapes the confines of a biopic.
Wang’s previous films “In the Family” and “A Bread Factory” earned him three Independent Spirit Award nominations and were featured as The New York Times Critic’s Picks. He has also published translations of renowned poets Ivan Bunin, Georg Trakl and Julian Tuwim. “A. Rimbaud” is slated to be Wang’s next iteration of poetic translation.
“The only way to keep up with Rimbaud is to be as playful and as inventive as Rimbaud,” Wang said in a statement. “We have the team of rogues ready to do this. At the center of it all is a young actor who is lightning in a bottle.”
The film will be produced by Wang, Daryl Freimark of Hardball Entertainment and Fritzi Adelman and Evan Johnson of Thin Stuff Productions. Draper, Victoria Sidebotham, Frank Barrera, Amy Williams, Michael Bevins, Galen Johnson and Kyle Bornais will serve as executive producers.
“Creating its own language and visual looks, I can’t wait for the world to see what comes from the mind of Patrick Wang and this amazing team of creatives,” Freimark said. “Blake Draper brings an insatiable work ethic and bottomless talent in his astounding performance as Arthur Rimbaud.”
“We are enormous fans of Patrick’s incredible, unpredictable, soul-stirring work and are thrilled to have the chance to help him realize his new film in our home city. Blake Draper — our sole actor — is the discovery of a lifetime,” Thin Stuff productions added in a statement.
Draper is represented by Gersh, BMEG in Australia and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
Source Agencies
