AFTER finding himself in the middle of the continued content turmoil at Warner Bros. Discovery and DC, Michael Keaton has shifted his focus to his upcoming noir thriller Knox Goes Away, which has revealed Oscar-winning actors Al Pacino and Marcia Gay Harden and Westworld star James Marsden as members of its impressive cast.

Keaton, who is still slated to reprise his Batman role in The Flash, will star in the film, embark on his second career directorial effort, and serve as a producer. The film was put up for sale and acquired at the Cannes Film Market back in May.

According to Variety, Keaton’s thriller has added Pacino, Harden, and Marsden to a cast that also includes Suzy Nakamura, Joanna King, Ray McKinnon, John Hoogenaker, and Lela Loren. The film was penned by Awake and National Treasure: Book of Secrets writer Gregory Poirier. Michael Sugar, who produced the 2015 Best Picture Oscar-winning film Spotlight, which starred Keaton, is also attached to produce.

In a joint statement, the production companies behind the film stated their goal was to make an original noir-thriller, which some may feel have fallen out of Hollywood’s favor in recent decades, but remain a classic film genre.

Keaton is in the director’s chair for the second time in his illustrious Hollywood career, but it’s the first time he has actually planned to direct. His previous directing credit was on 2008’s The Merry Gentleman, another crime-thriller that saw Keaton starring, but as a troubled detective tracking down the hitman.

He wasn’t supposed to direct the film, but the original director and writer Ron Lazzerti’s appendix burst prior to the start of filming. Keaton then took on the role of director for the film, which was met with high praise at the Sundance Film Festival. Unfortunately, the film was marred by legal battles and didn’t meet its monetary expectations.

The production on Knox Goes Away kicked off in late summer of this year, and shooting on the film recently wrapped. Keaton plays the role of John Knox, a hitman diagnosed with a fast-moving case of dementia. In his final days, he vows to do right by his estranged adult son, played by Marsden. There will be a dual ticking clock element as Keaton runs from the authorities and his looming battle with dementia, shaping up to be a dark, dreary callback to classic noirs of the past with moments of action, suspense, and heavy emotion that should be captured in great effect by its wonderful cast. Many are sure to consider Knox Goes Away an exciting project, as it gives audiences another opportunity to see Keaton in action after the unceremonious canning of Batgirl.

This time around, there doesn’t appear to be any drama involved. His role as director was set in stone from the very beginning, and he is reuniting with familiar executives from his past critically-acclaimed films. With a strong cast in place led by the legendary Michael Keaton both in front and behind the camera, Knox Goes Away could end up being one of the more engaging noirs in recent memory. (source: screenrant.com)

(ROHN ROMULO)