A pandemic rom-com is apparently underway with Anne Hathaway in talks to star
The coronavirus crisis is not over yet, but that hasn't stopped Hollywood from portraying the global pandemic on-screen. Last month, Freeform debuted Love in the Time of Corona, a limited romantic series highlighting how couples are faring under social distancing measures. Now, director Doug Liman is taking things a step further with a rom-com-heist flick called Lockdown.
From the helmer of action features like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and The Bourne Identity, Lockdown takes place against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, Variety has revealed. Further plot details have yet to be disclosed, but Deadline reported that filming could start in London as soon as the end of September.
Anne Hathaway is in final talks to star, according to both outlets. The Oscar winner recently appeared in Netflix's The Last Thing He Wanted, Prime Video's Modern Love, and Warner Bros' Ocean's 8, another heist film. Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy may also possibly star, but his casting is unconfirmed, according to Deadline.
The news was not warmly welcomed on Twitter, where users decried the ill timing of the announcement. With many countries around the world still suffering greatly at the impact of the virus, critics said it feels too soon — or just outright inappropriate — to turn the pandemic into meet-cute fodder.
Look...I know dating during this time is interesting and will make for compelling stories. But, you guys can wait until WE ARE OUT OF THE PANDEMIC YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT MY LORD. YOU DONT EVEN KNOW HOW THIS THING ENDS AND PEOPLE ARE DYING https://t.co/65Vy1i01AG
— quinta brunson (@quintabrunson) September 10, 2020
covid-19 stories should only ever be told in one way:
in 50 years when our grandkids are forced to interview us for a school report and only half-listen, assuming we’ve gone senile https://t.co/GBOOy80e2i— Melissa Hunter (@melissaFTW) September 10, 2020
Kill it with fire. https://t.co/ORmRU1BvKp
— H. (@Altlivias) September 10, 2020
Trash. Ain't shit romantic or funny about this pandemic. https://t.co/BjVs5YaGKW
— Jenét Where are the girls and babies? Morrow (@JenetAllDay) September 10, 2020
Can we PLEASE hold off on romanticizing this pandemic until we’re OUT of it and people are no longer dying of covid??? https://t.co/OnU6R4bbs2
— Madi Marie 𓆚 κακοθερής (@artificialginge) September 10, 2020
are they aware people are still dying everyday because of this or...? https://t.co/t0ow838bEp
— Berrak 🏳️🌈👩🏻💻☕️🧗🏻♀️🤿🌊 (@toggleModal) September 10, 2020
I don't know, do we really need to make everyone feel like their lockdown wasn't sexy or heisty enough? https://t.co/JJPXHeP14T
— Doctora Malka Older (@m_older) September 10, 2020
You know how there was a solid couple of years after 9/11 before we had a 9/11 movie?
Let’s give it a while before having a film version of this. When this is all over I want nothing less than to relive it at a place that is supposed to be an escape.— Chris Cookson (@coldmilk) September 10, 2020
What I really *don't* need is the inevitable wave of films that aim to dramatize or humorize this current moment in history.
It's enough just living through it. Please don't let it seep into our pop-cultural diet, too. Escapism is all I have at this point. https://t.co/wzfo4qoBCb— Some call me Jay (@paragonpostcard) September 10, 2020
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