Deadline reports that Shirley MacLaine joined the cast of The Local, an indie adaptation of Romeo and Juliet that will feature Jewish and Italian families (are we in some kind of a fight with the Italians? is it the Catholic thing?).
The film is directed by Sue Kramer, her second feature film (she made another indie called Gray Matters about a brother and sister who are awkwardly close). There is talk of adding Alan Arkin and Vera Farmiga to the cast.
It is still uncertain what role MacLaine will play.
Kramer told Deadline: “These two cultures have so much in common, love of gab, love of food, they talk with their hands, and they feed you with guilt.”
Spoiler: They all end up dying.
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