Alfred Molina and 3 others join 'Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes'

At this rate, Francesca Gregorini's follow-up to Tanner Hall may turn out to be her biggest hit yet. After losing Rooney Mara for the lead in Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes, she hasn't missed a beat by adding Kaya Scodelario and Jessica Biel. Now four more are eager to dive in to the film some are comparing to 2006's Lars and the Real Girl.

Alfred Molina, Frances O'Connor(Timeline), Jimmi Simpson(D.E.B.S.), and Aneurin Barnard(Ironclad) have signed on to the indie flick. The story centers on Emanuel(Scodelario), a teen who agrees to babysit her neighbor's child, which turns out to be a really lifelike doll. She goes along with the deception only because the neighbor bears a striking resemblance to her late mother.  Molina and O'Connor will play Emanuel's father and stepmother, respectively. Simpson will play a co-worker, while Barnard is a potential love interest.

I used to have a serious thing for Frances O'Connor back in the day, especially after Bedazzled. She's been doing a lot of TV lately, so I don't think I've seen her in anything of significance since the great HBO film, Iron Jawed Angels. Hopefully this means we'll be seeing a lot more of her.

As for those comparisons to Lars and the Real Girl? Gregorini tells Variety....

Gregorini: 'Lars and the Real Girl' is an easy comparison, but it veers away from that tonally. I consider it a psychological drama-thriller, with comedic elements. ... It deals with death, salvation and redemption, as well as the lengths we'll go to to deny our own mortality. It's about the secrets we tell ourselves and keep from each other, and how intricate those lies are."