Last night, Melissa Leo and Jesse Eisenberg were rivals, each hoping their respective Best Picture nominees would go home with more Oscar hardware. Tonight, Vulture has learned, they’re co-stars. Both are committing to star in the indie comedy Predisposed, a macabre look at the unhealthy relationship between a drug-addicted mother (Leo) and her college-bound son (Eisenberg), set on the day of both his interview at Julliard and her planned arrival to rehab.
Complicating matters, mom’s lack of health insurance means she can only be admitted to rehab if she shows up intoxicated; further complicating matters is the feud that erupts between mom’s drug dealer, Sprinkles — who spies tell us will be played by 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan — and an as-yet-uncast rival purveyor of recreational pharmaceuticals. (Charlie Sheen, your ship has come in!)
Predisposed went to Sundance in 2009 as a short also starring Leo; it was co-written by Philip Dorling and Ron Nyswaner (himself nominated for an Oscar for writing Philadelphia back in 1994) with Dorling directing, but we’re told that this go ‘round, it’ll be Nyswaner who’ll make his directing debut. Shooting is scheduled to start this summer, while 30 Rock is on hiatus.
Meanwhile, we also hear the Oscar-winning Leo is committing to star in a revival of Picnic, the Pulitzer Prize–winning William Inge play that will be directed on Broadway later this year by the Roundabout Theater’s newest artistic associate, Sam Gold, and produced by Darren Bagert (who has produced revivals of Company and Guys and Dolls).