Elle Fanning, Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandon have signed on to star in the drama Three Generations, The Hollywood Reporter said.
Written by Nikole Beckwith, the film is described as an exploration of identity that centers on a New York City teen, Ray (Fanning), transitioning from female to male and her single mother, Maggie (Watts), who is coming to terms with having to raise her only daughter as a son. At the same time, Maggie’s mother Dolly (Sarandon), a quick-witted music manager who shares her brownstone with her lesbian partner Frances, is having a hard time wrapping her head around Ray's life-altering decision and Maggie's inability to move out of the house in which she grew up.
Gaby Dellal (On a Clear Day) is directing the indie, budgeted in the $5 million range. Production will begin in New York in early November.
Big Beach co-founders Peter Saraf and Marc Turtletaub will produce with Dorothy Berwin of InFilm Productions. Watts will executive produce along with Leah Holzer and Daniele Melia of Big Beach and Peter Pastorelli.
Big Beach is the production and financing company behind such films as CBS Films' The Kings of Summer, FilmDistrict’s Safety Not Guaranteed and Fox Searchlight's Little Miss Sunshine.
Stuart Ford’s IM Global will sell the film internationally and will launch sales at this year’s AFM. ICM will handle North American sales.
Fanning starred opposite Angelina Jolie in Maleficent and is wrapping up shooting Trumbo with Bryan Cranston.
Watts is earning praise for her work with Bill Murray in St. Vincent, currently in limited release, and is shooting Demolition, the latest drama from Jean-Marc Vallee.
Sarandon last starred in Tammy, New Line's Melissa McCarthy comedy.
