Update: A representative from GK Films, producers on the film, have informed us that while Amalric was in discussions for the film, he will not be appearing in “Hugo Cabret” due to scheduling conflicts. Bummer.
The already impressive cast for Martin Scorsese’s forthcoming 3D family film “Hugo Cabret” has added yet another talent. Mathieu Amalric will join the recently announced Jude Law, Ray Winstone, Christopher Lee as well as the previously confirmed Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Chloe Moretz and Asa Butterfield in the film that will shoot in London and Paris this summer.
Tipped by a reader (thanks Jerome!) we were pointed in the direction of French site Les InRocks who report that Amalric has joined the film. But unsure if it was just a rumor or not, we did some digging and found confirmation from the actor himself. Speaking with La Voix Du Nord, when asked about upcoming films Amalric says (note, this a rough Google Translation): “Here, I’m playing with Martin Scorsese. It’s called The Invention of Hugo Cabret, according to a well-known book illustration in the United States….whose author is Brian Selznick. It happens in the 30s, the story of an orphan who secretly lives in the Montparnasse station in Paris. He befriends an old man who runs a toy shop, which is actually Melies. This ended her life by holding a toy shop in the Gare Montparnasse, when all his studio burned down and he was absolutely convinced that all his films had been destroyed. And the child becomes a man who found a film, ‘The Voyage to the Moon.’ The character I’m playing, that’s what Scorsese in life, that is to say all that work to restore old movies.”
So, if we can parse through that text, it appears that Amalric will play a film restorer who we presume works to bring back the films of George Méliès (played by Ben Kingsley) that were presumed to be lost. In real life, French filmmaker Méliès really did live through seeing most of his work destroyed, melted down into boot heels for the French army in WWI after his film company went bankrupt and was sold. And yes, he did end up working at toy store at the Montparnasse station in Paris.
We’re big fans of Amalric, so we’re thrilled with this addition to the cast. And while we could take-it-or-leave-it with 3D, with Scorsese looking to up the ante of “Avatar” and “Alice In Wonderland” we’re curious to see what the director will bring to the table. And it will certainly be a joy to see consummate cinephile Scorsese explore the world of early silent cinema. “Hugo Cabret” will unspool on December 9, 2011.