Vito Schnabel’s dark comedy that once seemed like a pipe dream can now boast a robust cast of stars. Legendary rock singer/songwriterLenny Kravitz(Lee Daniels' The Butler),Gavin Rossdale(The Bling Ring),Gus Van Sant(Good Will Hunting),Beverly D’Angelo(Violent Night), andColleen Camp(Back on the Strip) have all boarded the production ofThe Trainer. All five will star alongside Schnabel in the latest film fromAmerican History XdirectorTony Kaye. Currently, there’s no word on what roles they’ll play in Schnabel’s story.
Written by Schnabel andJeff Solomon,The Trainerspans eight chaotic, sleep-deprived days following the down-on-his-luck fitness trainer Jack (Schnabel). While living in Los Angeles with his mother, Jack gets desperate to escape his situation and takes a shot at finding fame and fortune. His maniacal attempts at making it big are all in pursuit of what he sees as the American dream. It took nearly a decade to develop, but the film is finally in production.
The Traineris quickly garnering a loaded roster, with Kravitz, Rossdale, Van Sant, D’Angelo, and Camp joining the previously announcedJulia Fox,Steven Van Zandt,Taylour Paige,Stephen Dorff,John McEnroe,Gina Gershon,Luka Sabbat,Soo Joo Park,Brock O’Hurn,Bella Thorne,Laird Hamilton, andDuke Nicholson. Schnabel and Kaye are both producing the film withJeremy Steckleralongside them andGeorge Paaswellon as an executive producer.
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With Kravitz and Rossdale in particular, Schnabel will have a couple of prominent musicians alongside him on set. Kravitz has 11 studio albums under his belt and set a record at the Grammys for most consecutive wins by a male artist in a category with four straight wins for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. He’s also proven himself a solid actor with appearances inThe Hunger Gamesfranchise,Zoolander,Entourage, andBetter Things. Rossdale also has a rock background, forming the groupBushin 1992 before going solo. He even shared the screen with Kravitz back inZoolanderand has since had roles inConstantine,Little Black Book, andHawaiiFive-0.
Van Sant, meanwhile, is more well-known as a filmmaker and director for films likePsycho,Good Will Hunting,Elephant, andMy Own Private Idaho, though he’s no stranger to acting either. He acts in a few of his own movies as well as inEntourageandPortlandiaamong others. D’Angelo brings with her an Emmy and Oscar nomination and is a known quantity for Kaye due to appearing inAmerican History X. She can countThe Good House,The Unicorn, andDreamlandamong her credits and she’ll next be seen withDavid HarbourinViolent Night. Camp rounds out the newcomers with appearances inWayne’s World,Die Hard With a Vengeance,Clue, and, more recently,Violet. Her next major appearance will be alongsideChristina RicciinMonstrous.
The Traineris currently in production and eyeing a 2023 release date.
