For his follow-up to The Shape Of Water – the romantic fantasy that finally won him some Oscar gold – Guillermo del Toro is heading down Nightmare Alley, with a new adaptation of William Lindsay Gresham’s 1946 novel of travelling carnivals and duplicitous dealings. And while it was reported a few months ago that Leonardo DiCaprio would be going there with him, it looks like that’s no longer the case – according to Variety, a deal wasn’t finalised.
But another interesting choice – and someone else who hasn’t worked with del Toro before – is now circling the lead role of con-man mentalist Stanton Carlisle. Bradley Cooper, fresh from his own time in the Oscars spotlight, is the latest name attached to the project – and with Cooper coming off the back of some of his very best work in A Star Is Born, the thought of him entering a del Toro psychological drama-thriller is particularly enticing.
Elsewhere, little is confirmed about the project – del Toro is co-writing the screenplay with Kim Morgan, with reports claiming it will shoot in autumn this year, though no other casting is yet announced. Beyond Nightmare Alley, the director is working on his animated take on Pinocchio for Netflix.
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