The End of Star Wars begins a New "Life"

By Claude Brodesser

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) -
Fresh from his star turn in the next ``Star Wars'' movie, Hayden Christensen is in final negotiations to play a troubled teen-ager in the dark comedy-drama ``Life as a House.'' Christensen recently wrapped ``Episode II,'' in which he plays Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi knight who degenerates into Darth Vader.

In ``House,'' the Canadian actor will play an alienated, misanthropic teenager, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution and avoiding his father. When dad (Kevin Kline) is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his son from his ex-wife (Kristin Scott Thomas), and sets about trying to right the emotional wrongs.

The project is being developed at New Line by director/producer Irwin Winkler, who is working from a script by ``As Good As It Gets'' co-scribe Mark Andrus.

Reuters/Variety REUTERS -

Life As A House is confirmed by JD
Life as a House Release Date: TBA 2001/2002
Distributor: New Line Cinema (picked up out of turnaround from Columbia Pictures)
Cast: Kevin Kline, Kristin Scott Thomas, Hayden Christensen; other cast not announced yet.
Director: Irwin Winkler (The Net, At First Sight, Night and the City, Guilty by Suspicion)
Screenwriter: Mark Andrus (1991's Late for Dinner; cowriter of As Good as it Gets)
Premise: This is the story of a man (Kline) who learns that he is dying, so he starts work on his dream of building his own house, enlisting the help of his ex-wife (Thomas) and estranged son (Christensen). The construction of the perfect house becomes a metaphor for the reparation of a broken life, as suggested by the title.
Filming: Production is scheduled to start on November 27th, 2000.
Genre: Drama