Rooney Mara has landed another lead role, this time joining Cate Blanchett in Carol, the new project from director Todd Haynes.
The project was first reported on in May, after the Weinstein company acquired it in a deal with Number 9 Films. At the time, Blanchett was to co-star with Alice In Wonderland’s Mia Wasikowska, but according to Deadline, she is no longer involved.
Instead, producers have picked Oscar-nominee Rooney Mara, who was last seen in Side Effects and stars in Ain’t Them Bodies Saints. She played Lisbeth Salander in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and is working with director Terrence Malcik on an untitled project.
“We're over the moon to have Rooney on board,” Haynes said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “I've been a tremendous admirer of her work from the beginning, so the thought of bringing her together with Cate on-screen is thrilling to say the least.”
Carol is based on the Patricia Highsmith novella about a 20-year-old New York clerk (Mara) who dreams of a relationship with a married older woman (Blanchett). Like Haynes’ HBO miniseires Mildred Pierce, this is also a period piece, but set in the 1950s.
Number 9’s Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley are producing Christine Vachon’s Killer Films. The U.K.’s Film 4 is also co-financing.
Blanchett can currently be seen in Blue Jasmine and is attached to Disney’s live-action Cinderella.
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