Even as he cranks the cameras in Pittsburgh on the adaptation of much-loved novel The Fault In Our Stars, director Josh Boone is adding actors. The latest acquisition is Willem Dafoe, who has jumped aboard to play reclusive author Peter Van Houton.
Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort star as a pair of cancer-afflicted teens who meet via a mutual friend at a support group and bond over their shared love of a book called An Imperial Affliction, written by Van Houton.
The story eventually finds Gus (Elgort) using a Make-A-Wish-style arrangement to fly Hazel (Woodley) and himself to Amsterdam, where they meet the alcoholic, scornful author. Along the way, Gus and Hazel grow closer than ever, even as their disease continues to impact their lives.
Dafoe joins a cast that also already includes Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Nat Wolff, Mike Birbiglia and David Whalen. With a script by **(**500) Days Of Summer team Michael H. Weber and Scott. Neustadter, the film is set for release next year. Last seen in John Carter, Dafoe will crop up in Odd Thomas, Out Of The Furnace, A Most Wanted Man, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Lars von Trier’s Nymphomaniac.