Hugh Jackman to Star as Devoted Father in Movie Adaptation of Stage Play 'The Son'

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It's been a minute since we chatted about Hugh Jackman signing on for a new project. But now, he's set to star in the big screen adaptation of playwright Florian Zeller's The Son, with Zeller set to direct, reports Deadline. 

Jackman will be joined by Laura Dern (Big Little Lies), with the two starring as a divorced couple. Jackman's character, Peter, has moved on and now has a new partner and new baby. When his ex-wife, Kate (Dern), shows up with their teenage son, Nicholas, things get... messy.

Their son is described as "troubled, distant and angry." On top of having emotional problems, he's been skipping school for months.

While Peter may have a "new" family, he's not going to turn his back on his son. The description for the play-turned-movie says Peter strives to be a better father and to help his son. But, from this brief synopsis, it's clear that there's no clear-cut way to do so.

Nicholas' condition may be too much for one person to handle, setting the family on a "dangerous course."

Zeller talks about the takeaway for moviegoers, saying, "The Son is a deeply human story which, I believe, connects us all; I hope audiences will be profoundly moved by this family’s journey."

And, it's not just about the storyline, Zeller seems very keen on the casting: "Both Hugh and Laura naturally convey great warmth, compassion, and vulnerability… inviting our audience to embrace and feel every moment."

The Son marks the follow-up to Zeller's Oscar-nominated The Fatherstarring Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins, which just premiered this past February and was also adapted from a play.

While there's no start date for The Son, as it's in the early stages, we can watch for The Father in the Best Picture category at this year's Academy Awards, airing on Sunday, April 25.

Do you have any thoughts on who might play the son?