Alexander Payne is heading to Europe — and he’s bringing a great actress along the ride with him.
Renate Reinsve, the Norwegian breakout star of “The Worst Person in the World,” has boarded Payne’s upcoming Danish-language film “Somewhere Out There.” The project, which marks the Oscar-nominated filmmaker’s first foray into European cinema, is aiming for an early 2026 shoot in Denmark.
Reinsve, fresh off a return to Cannes this month with Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” will take on a supporting role in the film. Plot details remain tightly under wraps, though Screen reports the screenplay comes from Norwegian novelist and screenwriter Erlend Loe, based on an original concept by Swedish filmmaker Åke Sandgren.
Payne is working on numerous projects, but this one seems to to be next on tap. He’s also working on a sequel to 1999’s “Election”, starring Reese Whitherspoon. Payne confirmed that the film was set up as a streaming film with Paramount “a few years ago […] because everybody sees more money in that,” but that he wants the deal changed for a theatrical release.
Also in development, Payne’s 19th century western, which is supposed to star Paul Giamatti, and will be written by ‘Holdovers’ scribe David Hemingson.
Payne is coming off 2023’s Oscar-nominated “The Holdovers.” His most notable, and acclaimed, works include “Election,” “About Schmidt,” “Sideways,” and “Nebraska.”