EXCLUSIVE: Mandy Patinkin has joined the cast of Lionsgate‘s Wonder, the pic that stars Room standout Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson that is based on the New York Times bestseller by R.J. Palacio. Stephen Chbosky is directing from a script adapted by Jack Thorne and Steve Conrad. Shooting gets underway today with Participant Media and Walden Media joining Lionsgate and TIK Films to co-finance and executive produce.
Hamilton star Daveed Diggs also just joined the cast, playing a teacher in the story of a young boy born with significant facial differences that prevents him from attending a mainstream school. Now starting fifth grade, he must convince his classmates that he’s just like them. Noah Jupe, Bryce Gheisar, Izabela Vidovic, Danielle Rose Russell, Millie Davis and Elle McKinnon co-star.
Lionsgate has worldwide distribution rights and has set an April 7, 2017 U.S. release for the pic. Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman are producing for Mandeville Films.
Patinkin is shooting this before starting on the next season of Showtime’s Homeland. He also is voicing Papa Smurf in Sony’s upcoming animated franchise reboot. He’s repped by Paradigm and Echo Lake Entertainment.
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