Production begins on new Jim Jarmusch film 'The Limits of Control'

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I just received the following statement from a Chicago publicist:

HIAM ABBASS, GAEL GARCÍA BERNAL, PAZ DE LA HUERTA, ALEX DESCAS, JOHN HURT, YOUKI KUDOH, BILL MURRAY, JEAN-FRANÇOIS STÉVENIN, TILDA SWINTON, LUIS TOSAR IN NEW FILM FROM WRITER/DIRECTOR JIM JARMUSCH; PRODUCTION UNDERWAY

NEW YORK, February 21, 2008 – Independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch’s new film, the tentatively titled The Limits of Control, has confirmed the addition of ten actors to its cast. Mr. Jarmusch started shooting the picture, to which Focus Features has worldwide rights, in Madrid, Spain earlier this month. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Joining previously announced lead actor Isaach De Bankolé, in his fourth collaboration with Mr. Jarmusch, are Hiam Abbass, whose films include Munich and Paradise Now; Gael García Bernal, of Focus’ Academy Award-winning The Motorcycle Diaries; Paz De La Huerta, whose independent feature work includes the upcoming The Guitar, with Mr. De Bankolé; Alex Descas, who starred opposite Mr. De Bankolé in the “No Problem” segment of Mr. Jarmusch’s Coffee and Cigarettes; two-time Academy Award nominee John Hurt; Youki Kudoh, who starred in Mr. Jarmusch’s Mystery Train; Bill Murray, who starred in Mr. Jarmusch’s most recent film, Broken Flowers, which was also handled worldwide by Focus; Jean-François Stévenin, whose films include Brotherhood of the Wolf and The Man on the Train; Tilda Swinton, also a Broken Flowers cast member, and currently an Academy Award nominee for her performance in Michael Clayton; and Luis Tosar, whose films include Miami Vice, in which Mr. De Bankolé also appeared. Focus is co-financing the film with Entertainment Farm.

In addition to Broken Flowers, Mr. Jarmusch’s films include Permanent Vacation, Stranger Than Paradise, Down by Law, Mystery Train, Night on Earth, Dead Man, Year of the Horse, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Coffee and Cigarettes, and the short film “INT. TRAILER. NIGHT.”

The new film is the story of a mysterious loner (to be played by Mr. De Bankolé), a stranger, whose activities remain meticulously outside the law. He is in the process of completing a job, yet he trusts no one, and his objectives are not initially divulged. The film is set in the striking and varied landscapes of contemporary Spain (both urban and otherwise).

Mr. Schamus said, “These acclaimed actors span an international spectrum of talent, and are sterling additions to this exciting new project. We have had the pleasure of collaborating with several of them previously, and eagerly anticipate their work with Jim.”

Stacey Smith, who has worked with Mr. Jarmusch for over a decade, and Gretchen McGowan (who co-produced the filmmaker’s Coffee and Cigarettes) are producing the new film. Award-winning cinematographer Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love) is the film’s director of photography; Eugenio Caballero, an Academy Award winner last year for his art direction of Pan’s Labryinth, is the film’s production designer. The filmmaker’s longtime collaborator Jay Rabinowitz will edit the feature. Jon Kilik (Babel) is executive-producing the film, continuing his association with Mr. Jarmusch.

President of production John Lyons and senior vice president, international production and post-production Allison Silver are overseeing the project on behalf of Focus.

Focus Features (www.focusfeatures.com) is a motion picture production, financing, and worldwide distribution company committed to bringing moviegoers the most original stories from the world’s most innovative filmmakers.

In addition to Mr. Jarmusch’s new film, current and upcoming Focus Features releases include Joe Wright’s Atonement, nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture; Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges, starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes, which world-premiered as the Opening-Night film of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival; Bharat Nalluri’s Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, starring Frances McDormand and Amy Adams; Andrew Fleming’s irreverent comedy Hamlet 2, starring Steve Coogan; Shane Acker’s animated fantasy epic 9, starring Elijah Wood and Jennifer Connelly; Henry Selick’s stop-motion animated feature Coraline, starring Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher; Cary Fukunaga’s immigrant thriller Sin Nombre; Joel and Ethan Coen’s Burn After Reading, starring George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, and Brad Pitt; Gus Van Sant’s Milk, starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk; and a contemporary comedy to be directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes.

Focus Features is part of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.