First Trailer for Dylan Thomas Biopic 'Set Fire to the Stars' with Elijah Wood

The name Dylan Thomas may not be immediately recognizable to some, but those who followed the Welsh poet's work consider him a celebrity. And like many of the giants in his chosen field, Thomas lived a turbulent life controlled by his personal demons, making his frequent trips to America  quite the experience for those having to deal with him. The biopic Set Fire to the Stars will bring the story of his first stateside tour to the big screen, and here's a look at the trailer.

Announced at the beginning of the year with Elijah Wood and Celyn Jones as the stars, the latter in the role of Thomas, the story follows a week in the alcoholic poet's life as he sets out on a series of performed readings in 1950s New York City. Wood plays John Brinnin, Thomas' friend and fellow writer who tried to keep his hell raising  friend in line and found it to be a nearly impossible task.

Shot in beautiful black & white by director Andy Goddard (Downton Abbey),  the film also stars Shirley Henderson, Steven Mackintosh, and the ever busy Kelly Reilly. No release date for this one yet but it's due to hit the U.K. next month. I was hoping to see it make one of the upcoming festivals around here but that doesn't seem to be happening.[Live for Films via ThePlaylist]

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Bruce Willis is 'Captive'; Aubrey Plaza Joins 'Mortdecai'; Elijah Wood 'Sets Fire to the Stars'

* Bruce Willis can still pack 'em in, especially for the most tired of action movies, and he's just added another one in hopes of getting more of your money. He'll star in the boringly-titled Captive (*yawn*), about "an American real estate magnate living in Brazil who is kidnapped and held for ransom at a prison cell hidden in a Sao Paolo landfill while a detective specializing in ransom cases tries to find him." Directing is Simon Brand, who helmed the mediocre "whodunnit" Unknown. [Variety]

* Production on the Johnny Depp-led comedy Mortdecai has moved to Los Angeles, and along with it a handful of promising new additions have been made to the cast. Aubrey Plaza, Jeff Goldblum, and Oliver Platt have joined Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Olivia Munn, and Paul Bettany in the adaptation of Kyril Bonfiglioli's books about the titular art dealer and part-time rogue who goes off on a quest involving a stolen painting and missing Nazi gold. David Koepp is directing, and with this cast Mortdecai could be Depp's best film in years.

* Elijah Wood will play famed poet John Michael Brinnin in the indie drama, Set Fire to the Stars.  Andy Goddard (Downton Abbey) will co-write and direct the story which chronicles Brinnin's friendship with Welsh writer Dylan Thomas, played by Celyn Jones. Thomas led a turbulent life led by his personal demons and a stormy marriage, and I suspect the bulk of the film will deal with how Brinnin tried to help his friend through it. Production begins later this month.

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