McDonald's film is Oscar-worthy and highly controversial, claims Harvey Weinstein
The Founder, starring Michael Keaton as Ray Kroc, is set for major rewards in the upcoming year
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.We've barely placed that dearly coveted Oscar into Leonardo DiCaprio's waiting hands, and yet already all eyes have turned to next year's potentially winning crop.
One man has already launched ahead of the race; the very man we last saw at the Academy Awards themselves, screaming "F**k yeah!" into the beckoning night when his film Spotlight landed Best Picture.
That man is, of course, Michael Keaton; who also happened to star in 2015's Best Picture winner, Alejandro González Iñárritu's Birdman.
And, now, producer Harvey Weinstein thinks Keaton's next film could strike gold once more; perhaps even landing the actor his own shiny gold man. Keaton stars in The Founder, which charters how Illinois salesman Ray Kroc took control of a hamburger restaurant owned by the McDonald brothers and exploded it into one of the world's most profitable companies.
In a press statement (via Digital Spy), Weinstein praised Keaton's performance as Kroc as "incredible"; before describing it as "brilliant and one of the most controversial films I have had the pleasure to be associated."
The Founder is directed by Saving Mr. Banks' John Lee Hancock and written by The Wrestler's Robert D. Siegel; its cynically-pitched take on greed, power, and business seems to fall in line with the trends set out by The Wolf of Wall Street and The Big Short.
"The story of Ray Kroc should ignite adult audiences this summer and send the incredible team of John Lee Hancock and Michael Keaton back to the Dolby Theatre," Weinstein continued.
Though its release date has been pushed forward outside of the Oscar season and its original 25 November release, now set to 5 August; Weinstein insisted that he is, "determined to show that adult fare and award-caliber movies should be able to open any time of year and be successful."
Keaton stars alongside Laura Dern, Nick Offerman, and Linda Cardellini. There's no word yet on when the UK release will be.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments