Kirsten Dunst has joined the cast of Lars Von Trier’s next film, Melancholia, described as a scifi emotional disaster film. The actress joins Charlotte Gainsbourg (returning to Von Trier’s fold after Antichrist), Kiefer Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling and Udo Kier, all of whom will be shooting this summer in southern Sweden (if that volcano permits).
Von Trier, who is kind of a genius, is well known for being tough on actors and actresses; it’ll be interesting to see how a former child star and Hollywood insider like Dunst reacts to the Danish director’s demands. She’ll at least be put through the ringer, especially since it seems that she’s taking the lead role, which was going to Penelope Cruz before she opted for big catering and cushy quarters on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
For those of you who think this will be a real scifi film – I wouldn’t hold my breath. Like Antichrist, expect Von Trier to take tropes and elements of the genre and then twist it into something very much his own. And very much arty. For those who expect that, Melancholia is an exciting prospect. I’m really hoping to find out more about the film soon – if you have any info, please share!