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Lead role cast in 'The Chronology of Water'

posted 2 years ago by CKid (3833)
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Apparently, Kristen has found an actress to play the lead in The Chronology of Water, the project for which she has written the screenplay and plans to direct.

I read the following in Variety's coverage of Kristen and Nicole Kidman's Actors on Actors conversation ...

Kidman: You want to direct?
Stewart: So badly.
Kidman: Wow.
Stewart: I've adapted a memoir by novelist Lidia Yukanavitch, and we just cast the lead role, which is monumentally relieving. I've been alone with this, in this vacuum, and it's so nice to give something to someone, a friend, a partner, and say, "Help me." She's the one who's going to have to do it, and it's really hard, so I'm over the moon.

See - https://variety.com/2022/film/actors/kristen-stewart-spencer-princess-diana-nicole-kidman-lucille-ball-1235164432/

So this raises the question, whom has Kristen found to play the lead?
Her mention of, "a friend, a partner," makes me wonder if it's someone she has previously worked with, and if so, I can't escape the feeling that it might be Dakota Fanning. After all, Kristen and Dakota have worked together on the short film, Cutlass (2007), as well as The Runaways (2010) and several of the Twilight films. Of course, it very well could be someone else. Any thoughts from you guys?

Oh yeah, according to IMDb's The Chronology of Water page, I see that Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions is listed as a producer of the film.
This would be the fourth time that Scott Free Productions has been involved with a film that Kristen has been part of.
First was Welcome to the Rileys (2010), which Scott Free helped produce and Jake Scott directed, then Equals (2016), and finally, Come Swim (2017), which was the short film that Kristen wrote and directed.

[–] Ron2011 (908) 2 years ago

Kristen seems to be saying that it's a friend so Dakota Fanning is a good guess. Trying to think of Kristen friends - thinking also of Riley Keough; I think they were in a movie together also, not sure. I've seen Riley in some different roles, and I think she has some good range sides to her acting.

[–] CKid (3833) 2 years ago

Ron, Riley Keough was also in The Runaways. She had a somewhat small role playing Marie Currie, sister of Cherie Currie, who of course was played by Dakota Fanning.
The Runaways was Riley's first film.

[–] Ron2011 (908) 2 years ago

Ah, ok. I remember the sister who was a bit jealous that she couldn't go on tour with her sister. Surprised that was Riley's first film as I've seen her in several films and shows and like her.
.

[–] LLOwens (983) 2 years ago

I would have to agree that Dakota Fanning, because some of her career choices have mirrored that of Kristen at various stages in her career (i.e., The Runaways, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn - Part 2, Cutlass, Hounddog, Now is Good) and Riley Keough, who has played several roles which I wished Kristen would have portrayed (i.e., Mad Max: Fury Road, Logan Lucky, American Honey, Zola, The Good Doctor, The Devil All the Time), would be two very likely candidates who meet the definition of being friends of Kristen as well as having the potential to nail the lead role in The Chronology of Water. My third pick would be Mackenzie Davis who portrayed a bisexual role in Happiest Season, costarring opposite Kristen.

[–] Ron2011 (908) 2 years ago

Another good pick LL, with Mackenzie Davis. She's been great in a number of films, and in the former TV series Halt and Catch Fire.

[–] LLOwens (983) 2 years ago

The reason Mackenzie Davis was one of the first names that popped into my head Ron, was my first impression I had of Mackenzie after watching her in Tully, where she starred opposite Charlize Theron, was Kristen starring alongside Julianne Moore in Still Alice. Like Kristen's characters in several of her films, Mackenzie was a free spirit with a bit of a rebellious streak. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why they were both cast in Happiest Season.

[–] CKid (3833) 2 years ago

Mackenzie would be a good choice, LL, and now, I think I have another ... Tanaya Beatty.
Who is Tanaya Beatty, you might ask?
Well, her very first film was Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and sometime this year we shall see her in Crimes of the Future with Kristen.
The fact that the two of them made their second film together just last year makes me feel that Tanaya could be a possibility, especially since in her conversation with Nicole Kidman (see the link that started this thread), Kristen said that wants to make The Chronology of Water on a small budget.

Kidman: You are so fearless. When do you start?
Stewart: It's in process. I talked to someone with a lot of money two days ago, and she seemed excited about the prospect, but I want it to be small. I think the best version of it really is.

Speaking of small budgets, I see that Kristen has been chosen to be an honorary chairperson on this year's Spirit Awards.
See: https://deadline.com/2022/02/mary-j-blige-naacp-image-awards-kristen-stewart-spirit-awards-honorary-chair-kate-winslet-helen-mirren-sag-awards-1234955890/
The Spirit Awards takes place on March 6th and will air live on IFC.

I wonder whether this connection is in any way associated with raising the Spirit Awards awareness that The Chronology of Water might very well be in-consideration for a Spirit Award sometime in the next couple of years.

[–] LLOwens (983) 2 years ago

I believe Tanaya Beatty has the talent to pull off such a role, Carved, as she did well in the Western Hostiles considering she held her own starring alongside an all-star cast which included Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Jesse Plemons, Ben Foster, Rory Cochrane, Stephen Lang, and Timothee Chalamet.

Neon’s Spencer starring Stewart as Princess Di is not in the mix for Spirit Awards this year; film budgets must be $22.5 million or below to be eligible.

I was wondering why Kristen didn't receive a Spirit Awards nomination--thought this was just another awards body which snubbed her performance--to realize this could very well be the only reason.