By Back in March we mentioned that Jon Stewart is going on hiatus at The Daily Show to direct his first feature film, Rosewater. The film is an adaptation of Maziar Bahari’s book Then They Came for Me, a non-fiction account of Bahari’s imprisonment and torture in Iran while covering the country’s 2009 presidential election. Strangely, Bahari’s appearance on The Daily Show prior to his imprisonment was used as evidence against him by the Iranian government.
Rosewater now has its lead: Gael García Bernal. Bernal is a really great and versatile actor, with roles in films like No, Y Tu Mamá También, The Loneliest Planet, Bad Education, and a forthcoming post-apocalyptic Zorro movie.
Bernal’s presence is a good sign, and his performance ought to add even more weight to the already heavy material. Expect more information on Rosewater as the film goes into production.
[via The Wrap]