After a busy week, you'll excuse Rooney Mara's agents if they turn off their cell phones and have a much earned nap. In the last few days the actress has signed on to replace Carey Mulligan in Spike Jonze's upcoming film and taken a lead role in the upcoming adaptation of Colm Toibin's "Brooklyn." And now to close off the week, she's landed another gig that will see her star opposite two of our favorite actors.
Deadline reports that Mara will join Ben Foster and Casey Affleck in "Ain't Them Bodies Saints." Set to be written and directed by David Lowery, the project was part of last summer's Creative Producing Labs and Creative Producing Summit at Sundance, and it boasts a pretty great premise. Set in the 1970s, the film tells the story of an outlaw who escapes from prison and sets out across the Texas countryside to reunite with his wife and the daughter he never met. On his journey the past begins to catch up with him.
Lowery made an impression on the festival circuit last year with his short film "Pioneer" (trailer below), which won the 2011 Grand Jury Award at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival. And clearly, he has cooked up something compelling here to attract such a cast. No word yet on when lensing might take place not only because of Mara's packed schedule, but also due to the fact that financing is still being lined up. But with that cast, financiers shouldn't be too hard to find. Fun fact: Toby Hallbrooks, one of the producers on the film, was once a member of The Polyphonic Spree.