Willem Dafoe To Star In Vincent Van Gogh Biopic AT ETERNITY’S GATE

“When facing a flat landscape I see nothing but eternity. Am I the only one to see it?” “Existence can’t be without reason.” – Vincent Van Gogh, 1888

Rocket Science announced today that Golden Globe Winner Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Before Night Falls) will direct AT ETERNITY’S GATE, which will star Academy Award Nominee Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man, John Wick) as Vincent van Gogh.

Based on a screenplay by Schnabel and Jean-Claude Carrière, the story focuses on the time in Vincent’s life that he spent in Arles and Auvers-sur-Oise, France.

Academy Award Nominee Jon Kilik (The Hunger Games franchise, Babel) will produce the film, which will be shot on location in France. Rocket Science is handling international sales and CAA is representing the U.S rights.

“This is a film about painting and a painter and their relationship to infinity. It is told by a painter. It contains what I felt were essential moments in his life, this is not the official history – it’s my version. One that I hope could make you closer to him,” said director Julian Schnabel.

Producer Jon Kilik said: “After over 20 years of working together, I am excited to continue my collaboration with Julian. This one is going to be special!”

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In 1886, he moved to Paris where he met members of the avant-garde, including Paul Gauguin. At Eternity’s Gate is a film about creativity and the sacrifices Vincent made to produce the spectacular masterpieces that are instantly recognizable around the world today.

Schnabel directed Before Night Falls, which became Javier Bardem’s breakthrough Academy Award-Nominated role, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, which was nominated for four Academy Awards, won a Golden Globe, and for which he was named Best Director at the 2007 Cannes International Film Festival.

Dafoe stars in Sean Baker’s The Florida Project, which will make its world premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival. He is currently filming Aquaman and will next be seen in Justice League, both for DC Comics and Warner Bros.

Kilik has produced over 30 other features by directors such as Oliver Stone, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Bennett Miller, Jim Jarmusch, Spike Lee, Robert De Niro, Tim Robbins and Gary Ross. He has produced all of Julian’s films including The Diving Bell and The Butterfly.