Fox Searchlight Pictures has announced that principal photography has started in New York City on Can You Ever Forgive Me? The film is directed by The Diary of a Teenage Girl‘s Marielle Heller from a script written by Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said) and Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), based on the memoir of the same name by Lee Israel. Can You Ever Forgive Me? stars Academy Award-nominated Melissa McCarthy (The Boss) in the true story of best-selling celebrity biographer (and friend to cats) Lee Israel, who made her living in the 1970s and 80s profiling the likes of Katherine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant)
The Can You Ever Forgive Me? cast also includes Jane Curtin (The Heat), Dolly Wells (Bridget Jones’s Baby), Anna Deavere Smith (Black-ish) and Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein).
“I’m overjoyed to be starting principal photography on this film, with this fantastic group of collaborators,” says Heller. “Working with Melissa, Richard E. Grant and the rest of our tremendous cast, Searchlight and Anne Carey and all my wonderful producers is a dream come true. Now, more than ever, it is imperative we tell the stories of women and all people who have gone unnoticed by society. I’m honored to be helming this very special film.”
Archer Gray President of Production Anne Carey (20th Century Women), Archer Gray founder Amy Nauiokas (The Diary of a Teenage Girl) and personal close friend of Lee Israel, David Yarnell (Firing Line), produce with Pamela Hirsch (Miles Ahead), Jawal Nga and Bob Balaban serving as executive producers.
“For Archer Gray to be working with Marielle Heller again is absolutely thrilling,” adds Carey. She has assembled a fantastic cast and crew. We also couldn’t ask for better partners than Fox Searchlight. Bringing Lee’s story to life has been a long journey with support from so many people along the way. Knowing Lee as I did, I am certain she would be delighted by this incarnation.”
Joining Heller on the film is director of photography Brandon Trost (This Is The End), production designer Stephen Carter (Spotlight), editor Anne McCabe (Adventureland) and costume designer Arjun Bhasin (Life of Pi).
Can You Ever Forgive Me? is being overseen by co-heads of production Matthew Greenfield and David Greenbaum and Director of Production Taylor Friedman.
