Linklater: 'Merrily' Resumes Filming, Wraps by 2040 — SkimNews
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- Richard Linklater said at Zurich Film Festival that his "Merrily We Roll Along" adaptation will begin filming its fourth of nine sections "in a few months," with the full shoot running until approximately 2040.
- Linklater is directing Paul Mescal, Beanie Feldstein, and Ben Platt in the 20-year project, structured as nine sections filmed over two decades to mirror the musical's decades-spanning storyline.
- Linklater denied Julie Delpy's claim that she was paid a tenth of Ethan Hawke's salary on "Before Sunrise," saying he fought producers to pay her close to Hawke because he knew how hard she would have to work.
- Linklater left the door open to a fourth "Before" film — "never say never" — while acknowledging they "just missed our nine year [slot] by a long shot."
- Linklater recounted casting Matthew McConaughey in "Dazed and Confused" after initially dismissing him as "too clean-cut," with McConaughey telling him: "I'm not this guy, but I know this guy."
- Linklater accepted Zurich's Career Achievement Award during a masterclass, calling film "optimistic" because it brings together "people who want to see something great and make something great."
Why it matters: Linklater's update confirms the 20-year "Merrily" shoot remains on track with its fourth of nine sections due to film in coming months and a projected 2040 finish — a concrete timeline for a project whose duration has drawn skepticism since announcement. His on-record denial of Delpy's pay disparity claim also revives a years-old dispute over "Before Sunrise" compensation.
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