Right around the time Juno was released, it was well publicized that Ellen Page and Olivia Thirlby would co-star in another picture together, Jack & Diane, which followed two teenage girls in love, one who just happened to be a werewolf. However, they told the press production was delayed because of lack of funding. In the meantime, Page took on several new roles in films like Smart People and the upcoming Whip It!.
So it’s bittersweet for me that I can give you this update: Jack & Diane is finally being filmed with a budget for both “special effects and animation.” However, Ellen Page has been replaced by Alison Pill.
I don’t mean that Alison Pill is a poor choice – she was great as the sole lesbian character in Milk – I’m just a huge Page fan and would have loved to see her play a lesbian. And a werewolf. Either way, I’m still psyched on the premise of the movie, which screenwriter/director Bradley Rust Gray describes as such:
My focus in making Jack & Diane is to carefully examine what happens when two young people fall in love for the first time. I want to show this love by looking inside the character.The rest of his director’s statement and information about the cast and crew can be found at Gray’s website.
The film sounds like it’s being made with good intentions and the lesbian relationship won’t be gratuitous in any way. And with such great actresses attached, I’m finding it easier to get over the break-up with Ellen Page. I know, she’s busy. I guess I’ll just have to hold out for lesbian role in the feature film version of Freeheld.
