Taymor's Across the Universe to Premiere in Toronto

Variety reports that Across the Universe, the imaginative new film by Tony Award-winner Julie Taymor, will have its world premiere at the 32nd Annual Toronto International Film Festival.

According to the article, Across the Universe "is a love story starring Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood set against the backdrop of the political upheaval of the 1960s and its music, (and is) part live-action, part animation."

The film will star Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess as its young lovers, as well as Bono as "Dr. Robert" and Eddie Izzard as "Mr. Kite."  It will be released in the US and the UK on September 28th.  The film will feature a screenplay by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.  Suzanne Todd, Jennifer Todd and Matthew Gross will produce.

Woody Allen's new film Cassandra's Dream, starring Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell, will also premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Taymor, who won a Tony Award for directing the Broadway musical The Lion King and who is also known for films such as Titus and Frida, helmed the recent Metropolitan Opera production of The Magic Flute, as well as productions such as Juan Darien, The Tempest, and Oedipus Rex.  It was previously announced that she will stage the upcoming Broadway musical Spider-Man.

Visit www.torontointernationalfilmfestival.ca for more information.