ERIC LARUE: Michael Shannon Slated to Direct His First Film

Actor Michael Shannon to Direct Forthcoming Movie

Oscar nominee Michael Shannon has been selected to direct Eric LaRue, a heavy drama that will serve as his feature film directorial debut.

You can start by calling him a one-of-a-kind actor’s actor. Michael Shannon is one of the most intense and effective performers working today. If you need any proof, just examine his Academy Award nominated supporting work in Revolutionary Road or Nocturnal Animals. Now, Shannon is exploring his talent behind the camera with the upcoming dramatic film, Eric LaRue based on a Brett Neveu play about a 17-year old named Eric who killed three of his fellow school students. The movie will focus on the mother of Eric, Janice and her difficulties after the incident. It sounds like something in the vein of the powerful dramatic picture, We Need to Talk About Kevin which was a difficult but probing watch that came out in 2011.

Shannon is no stranger to appearing in high profile, award-worthy movies. He co-starred in the 2017 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, The Shape of Water. He first won the attention of moviegoers when he appeared opposite Ashley Judd in the very powerful 2006 drama, Bug. That movie was promoted as a horror movie but was really a deep drama about paranoia and it got an “F” CinemaScore mark. But, don’t think that was a bad thing in this particular case. It proved the movie angered people which may well have been the intentions of the filmmakers with that picture’s thought-provoking premise.

In 2011’s Take Shelter, Shannon further extended his dramatic acting abilities playing against the now Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain. That film was another exercise in heavy storytelling with an ambiguous conclusion just like the one found in Bug.

Eric LaRue is going to be a powerful story to see told. It originated as an idea based upon the Columbine High School shootings of 1999. A movie from last year called Mass told a story based on the idea of a school shooting where multiple people died which initiates a conversation between parents. In the wake of recent events, I haven’t been able to watch it myself but I need to because it was critically praised. These types of stories are important to see made into films, though. When I saw We Need to Talk About Kevin, it was an uncomfortable experience but, today, movies like these need to be talked about and seen.

In the meantime, Shannon is appearing in one of the most highly anticipated movies of the summer, Bullet Train. He is also slated to reappear with Jessica Chastain in a show, “George and Tammy.” That gives audiences time to prepare for Eric LaRue which will undoubtedly strike up conversations that will be uncomfortable but we live in a world where the only way to encourage change is to discuss the past and hope for a better future. All eyes are on Shannon to see how he does with his directorial debut.

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