Julia Verdin stacks the deck with Sienna Miller, Jacqueline Bisset for ‘TWO JACKS’
by Nadine Jolson
Hollywood, CA (Hollywood Today) 12/29/10 – Producer Julia Verdin may have scored a winning hand for her newest film Two Jacks, currently filming in LA. Verdin (Stander, Merchants of Venice) is collaborating with Director Bernard Rose (Immortal Beloved, Mr. Nice) on the indie drama based on Leo Tolstoy’s short story “The Two Hussars.” Sienna Miller, Jack Huston, and Danny Huston star in the film, along with Green Hornet’s Jamie Harris, Billy Zane, Jacqueline Bisset and Richard Portnow (Law Abiding Citizen) who recently joined the cast.
“This is a dream project, we’re thrilled to have Sienna Miller on board, she was our first choice for the role of beautiful ‘Diana’ and she could not be more perfect. It’s wonderful to finally get a chance to work with longtime friend Bernard Rose, and amazing actors Danny Huston and Jack Huston also longtime friends.
With a notorious eye for talent, Julia Verdin worked with Rose to bring in top talent for Two Jacks, and is thrilled with the results. “We’ve structured a stellar cast around a great script,” Verdin comments.
Produced under the banner of Julia Verdin’s Rough Diamond Productions, Two Jacks (adapted and directed by Bernard Rose) tells the story of legendary filmmaker Jack Hussar (Danny Huston) who returns to Hollywood to earn financing for his new project. A series of wild adventures take place, he boozes, gambles, seduces a beautiful woman (Sienna Miller) and fights with studio execs, winning the money he needs for his movie in a poker game. The focus shifts forward to years later to the director’s son (Jack Huston of HBO’sBoardwalk Empire, Eclipse) as he attempts to follow in his father’s directorial footsteps.
Jamie Harris plays the role of ‘Colin’, the hapless director who ‘Lorenzo,’ the studio head (Richard Portnow) takes advantage of and wins Colin’s hard earned director fee’s off him at Poker. Jacqueline Bisset graces the screen as ‘Diana’ years later, Billy Zane plays Movie Star ‘Max Faraday,’ Izabella Miko and international supermodel and actress Lydia Hearst jumped on board to play cameo’s.
The film marks her first collaboration with Bernard Rose, a man passionate about taking Tolstoy to the big screen. This is Rose’s 3rd film based on Tolstoy’s short stories, all of which starred Danny Huston – who will also serve as Executive Producer on Two Jacks.
“We have had a wonderful experience working together and we planTwo Jacks to be the first of many! Between us we have a lot of great talent relationships and a great production team who really enjoy this style of filmmaking –it is very collaborative and has been a great experience for all.”
British Producer Julia Verdin has established herself as one of Hollywood’s leading independent Producers. Her credits include over 27 feature films such as Lionsgate’s recent release The Least Among You starring Oscar® winner Lou Gossett Jr., NAACP winner Cedric Sanders and Lauren Holly. She produced The Sundance sensationStander released by Newmarket, starring Thomas Jane (HBO’s Hung) and Deborah Unger. Julia served as Executive producer on the critically acclaimed The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes, released by Sony Classics. Julia Verdin also serves on the board of directors of BAFTA-LA and was on the board for 3 years and now consults for Seven Arts Pictures.
On the slate for 2011 for Rough Diamond Productions are Romeo Spy which will be Julia’s 2nd Collaboration with director Bronwen Hughes since Stander, Catwalk to be directed by Anthony Hickox – a thriller about the cut-throat world of fashion where beauty is the beast. She will serve as a Producer on Neuromancer based on the William Gibson best seller alongside Jay Firestone to be directed by Vincenzo Natali. Bernard Rose and Julia Verdin are also developing another movie to be shot later next year.