Mank
Mank is an upcoming American biographical drama film about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and his battles with director Orson Welles over screenplay credit for Citizen Kane (1941). The film is directed by David Fincher, based on a script written by his father Jack, with Gary Oldman in the title role. Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Tom Burke, Tuppence Middleton, Tom Pelphrey, and Charles Dance also star. The film will be produced by Fincher, Ceán Chaffin, Douglas Urbanski and Eric Roth and distributed by Netflix.
Mank | |
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Directed by | David Fincher |
Produced by |
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Written by | Jack Fincher |
Starring | |
Music by | |
Cinematography | Erik Messerschmidt |
Edited by | Kirk Baxter |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Netflix |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Premise
The story centers around the life of Herman J. Mankiewicz as he wrote Citizen Kane, and the problems that arose with Orson Welles during production and leading up to the film's release.
Cast
- Gary Oldman as Herman J. Mankiewicz
- Amanda Seyfried as Marion Davies
- Lily Collins as Rita Alexander
- Tom Burke as Orson Welles
- Tuppence Middleton as Sara Mankiewicz
- Tom Pelphrey as Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Charles Dance as William Randolph Hearst
- Jeff Harms as Ben Hecht
- Leven Rambin as Eve
- Arliss Howard
- Ferdinand Kingsley
- Jamie McShane
- Joseph Cross
- Sam Troughton
- Toby Leonard Moore
Production
Mank was announced in July 2019, when David Fincher said he would direct the film, with Gary Oldman set to star. The screenplay was written by Fincher's father, Jack Fincher, prior to his death in 2003.[1] Additional casting was announced in October, with Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Tuppence Middleton, Arliss Howard and Charles Dance among the new cast added.[2] Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross will compose the film's score, using only period-authentic instruments.[3][4]
Filming began on November 1, 2019, in Los Angeles.[5] It also took place in Victorville, California, and wrapped on February 4, 2020.[6]
The 120-page draft of the initial script revealed that Jack Fincher closely followed a claim voiced by Pauline Kael in her 1971 New Yorker article "Raising Kane" that Welles did not deserve screenwriting credit.[7] Her argument was discredited by several film scholars, including Robert L. Carringer in his study of "The Scripts of Citizen Kane."[8]
Release
Although Netflix has yet to officially confirm, producer Eric Roth stated the film will be released in October 2020.[4][9]
References
- Fleming Jr., Mike (July 10, 2019). "David Fincher, Gary Oldman Team On B&W 'Mank' At Netflix; Film On 'Citizen Kane' Writer Herman J. Mankiewicz Scripted By Fincher's Late Father Howard". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- N'Duka, Amanda (October 15, 2019). "'Mank': Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, 'Downton Abbey's Tuppence Middleton & More Join David Fincher Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- "Nine Inch Nails: 9 Things We Learned from Our Visit to Trent Reznor's Studio". Revolver. December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
- Sharf, Zack (June 12, 2020). "'Mank' Producer Says Fincher's New Film Feels Like a 1930s Movie: 'It's an Incredible Piece'". IndieWire. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- "Mank Production Listing". Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- "Principal Photography Wraps On Netflix Biopic 'Mank'". WellsNet. February 4, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- "'Mank' script: Netflix film may echo Pauline Kael's 'Raising Kane'". Wellesnet | Orson Welles Web Resource. 2020-03-09. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- Carringer, Robert L. (1978-12-01). "The Scripts of "Citizen Kane"". Critical Inquiry. 5 (2): 369–400. doi:10.1086/447995. ISSN 0093-1896.
- Chitwood, Adam (June 12, 2020). "David Fincher's 'Mank' May Be Released on Netflix in October". Collider. Retrieved June 13, 2020.