The indie feature, Sympathy For Delicious, Ruffalo’s directorial debut, hit a huge road block in December with the death of Ruffalo’s brother, Scott. At the time James Franco was set to star.
The project is now back on track, with Orlando Bloom and Laura Linney among the leads. Production begins next week in Los Angeles.
The story, written by Christopher Thornton, follows a paralyzed DJ, ‘Delicious’ Dean O’Dwyer, struggling to survive on the streets of L.A. He turns to faith healing and mysteriously develops the ability to cure the sick, although not himself. Dean then decides to cash in on his gift in exchange for his rock ‘n’ roll dreams.
Bloom, who is taking over for Franco, will play the frontman of a rock band. Linney plays as the band’s manager working hard to stay relevant in a 21st century musical world.
Thornton is a theater actor and has had several minor acting roles over the years. He is paralyzed from the waist down. This is his first script and he will also be playing Dean, the DJ. Ruffalo plays a priest.
Bloom, who is best known for his role as Will Turner for the Pirates franchise and Legolas from the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy has been lying low in a run of independent films.
Linney, who is no stranger to the indie scene, has all stared in such films as The Squid And The Whale, The Strangers, Kinsey and The Laramie Project.
source: Hollywood Reporter
