Earlier this year, Steven Spielberg unveiled plans to produce a semi-autobiographical movie “loosely based on his childhood,” likely set to land on Netflix in 2022. In a casting announcement for the untitled film on Thursday, Amblin Partners, Spielberg’s production company named after his 1968 short film, disclosed that three young actors will take on the roles of “high school classmates of the young, aspiring filmmaker at the center of the story.”
Chloe East (HBO Max‘s Generation), Oakes Fegley (The Goldfinch and Wonderstruck) and Isabelle Kusman, who will make her feature film debut in an untitled Paul Thomas Anderson-directed film this year, have been confirmed to play Spielberg’s childhood friends. They join a cast that includes Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Paul Dano, Julia Butters, Sam Rechner and Gabriel LaBelle, who will play the young “Steve.”
Deadline reports that Rogen is expected to play Steve’s favorite uncle and Williams will take on a role heavily influenced by the filmmaker’s mother.
Spielberg co-wrote the semi-autobiographical screenplay alongside American playwright Tony Kushner, who formerly worked with the filmmaker on Lincoln, Munich and West Side Story, marking Spielberg’s first time taking on screenwriting duties since 2001. The duo also hold producing credits alongside Kristie Macosko Krieger.
Spielberg has additional movies in the works. Last month, the filmmaker signed a partnership deal with Netflix that will cover multiple feature films per year under his Amblin production company.
