I used to really look forward to the next Sean Penn movie, and I’m not even talking about his next acting role, which is in of itself something to always look forward to, but more so his directorial efforts.
Sure, Penn has won two acting Oscars, but people tend to forget he’s directed a handful of very good films. Sadly, his last two efforts have been pretty bad, but a little more about that soon.
Firstly, let’s get the cat out of the bag: Penn, 65, is telling Vanity Fair that after his Oscar-buzzed turn in “One Battle After Another,” he’s taking a break from acting to focus on directing, and has lined up quite the actor in the lead role.
Tom Hardy is set to star in Penn’s upcoming untitled film, his fifth as a director, with a shoot planned for next summer. Any earlier is impossible since Hardy is currently busy with his Paramount+ series “MobLand.”
Hardy is one of the best actors around—intense, brooding, depth-filled. His most notable performances include “Bronson,” “Warrior,” “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Locke,” and “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
As for Penn, I’ve not given up on his directing chops, and that’s despite his last two films, “The Last Face” and “Flag Day,” both ridiculed at Cannes, not being worthy of his talents. The dip in quality has been noticeable.
Here’s hoping this is Penn delivering the kind of quality that was present in “The Crossing Guard,” “Into the Wild,” and especially “The Pledge,” which featured one of the last great performances from Jack Nicholson.