Tribeca Film Festival
Matt Smith plays Robert Mapplethorpe in the movie produced by Watertown’s Eliza and Nate Dushku.
The biopic on controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe being produced, in part, by Watertown’s Eliza and Nate Dushku has been picked up by a studio and will be released later this year.
The North American rights to “Mapplethorpe” has been secured by Samuel Goldwyn Films, according to a report in Variety. The movie stars Matt Smith, known for his roles on “Dr. Who” and Netflix’s “The Crown,” and it is directed by Odi Timoner. Timoner is also a producer, along with Richard J. Bosner.
Samuel Goldwyn Films seeks to release the movie in the fall, according to Deadline Hollywood.
The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April. It follows the life of the photographer whose work documented gay subcultures of New York in the 1970s and 80s.
“Robert Mapplethorpe pushed the boundaries of the art world. This film boldly follows Mapplethrope as he explores and brings them to the mainstream — displaying a word that was shocking and beautiful,” Peter Goldwyn, president of Samuel Goldwyn Films, told Variety.
Eliza Dushku’s Film on Robert Maplethorppe Premiering at Tribeca Film Fest
Marianne Rendón stars as singer Patti Smith, Mapplethorpe’s longtime roommate and partner.
The Dushku siblings first saw the original script for “Mapplethorpe“ in 2002 when writer Bruce Goodrich showed it to them. The pair worked on the project over the years, but found securing funding difficult. The Dushkus turned to crowd funding to raise $100,000 for post-production on “Mapplethorpe,” and the effort raised more than $114,000.
Read about Eliza and Nate Dushku’s 15-year journey to making the “Mapplethorpe” movie by clicking here.