UPDATE: This week’s Production Weekly has a listing for J.J. Abrams’ next film. The title is “Acorns,” and the plot revolves around “a young married couple struggling to survive against a supernatural entity.”
EARLIER: Remember that rumor circulating online that had JJ Abrams directing a time travel movie? Timothee Chalamet was supposed to star in the lead role, that is until I got confirmation, from Chalamet’s reps, that he was not involved in the project.
Well, we can definitely confirm that Chalamet is not part of this film. Instead, Glenn Powell is in talks to take over the lead role. Otherwise, plot details are said to be kept a secret, and a production start date isn’t set. Warner Bros is close to inking a deal to produce it.
Powell is everywhere these days. His breakout turn in “Top Gun: Maverick” opened up many doors for the Texan-born actor. After starring in the hit romcom “Anyone But You,” he’s about to release two films this summer: Richard Linklater’s acclaimed “Hit Man” and “Twisters.” He also has upcoming roles in John Patton Ford’s “Huntington” and Edgar Wright’s "Running Man” remake.
As for Abrams, it does look like he’s coming back to directing. He hasn’t helmed a film in over four years. He’s had a few TV projects get canned. He mostly produces now, if that. Recently, the UK’s Telegraph claimed that he was in “director’s jail.” He’s about to get bailed out.
Abrams is the creator of acclaimed shows such as “Felicity,” “Alias” and “Lost.” Then he “graduated” into film and directed “Mission: Impossible 3,” “Star Trek,” and “Super 8,” among others. He was even being dubbed as “the next Spielberg.”
Last we heard from him, he oversaw Disney’s controversial ‘Star Wars’ trilogy, directing two of the films (“The Force Awakens” and “Rise of Skywalker”) and, in the process, infuriating the fanbase.