André Holland And Gemma Chan To Topline ‘The Actor’ From Neon And Duke Johnson

L to R: André Holland, Gemma Chan

Neon has wrapped production on its second feature, "The Actor," with André Holland and Gemma Chan as the lead actors. This is also the first live-action film for Oscar-nominated Anomalisa helmer Duke Johnson. The film's plot is based on the bestselling novel Memory by Donald E. Westlake and tells the story of an actor named Paul Cole (Holland) who finds himself stranded in 1950s Ohio, suffering from severe memory loss after a brutal attack. He is struggling to find his way back to his life in New York and reclaim what he has lost.

Holland takes over the male lead from Ryan Gosling, who was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts but remains aboard the project as an executive producer. Additional cast members set for the film include Tracey Ullman, Toby Jones, Simon McBurney, and Joe Cole. Johnson and Abigail Spencer produced the film under their Innerlight Films banner, alongside Paul Young for Make Good and Waypoint Entertainment's Ken Kao. Charlie Kaufman, Johnson's collaborator on Anomalisa, joins Gosling as an executive producer.

Holland is known for his roles in Barry Jenkins' Best Picture Oscar winner "Moonlight," Luca Guadagnino's "Bones and All," and Rebecca Hall's feature directorial debut "Passing" for Netflix. Meanwhile, Chan recently appeared in "Don’t Worry Darling," Disney/Marvel's "Eternals," and "Crazy Rich Asians." She will next star alongside Allison Janney and John David Washington in 20th’s Gareth Edwards pic "True Love" and an upcoming "Crazy Rich Asians" spin-off at Warner Bros.

Neon is coming off six Academy Award nominations, split between its Palme d’Or winner "Triangle of Sadness," the documentaries "All the Beauty and the Bloodshed" and "Fire of Love," and Irish Best International Film entry "The Quiet Girl." The company recently unveiled its horror title "It Lives Inside" at SXSW, where it won the Midnighters Audience Award. "The Actor" is the latest addition to their production slate.