Up In The Air Director To Adapt Novel Labor Day

I like Jason Reitman’s work. “Up In The Air” was especially wonderful, and “Young Adult” was a terrific acting showcase for Charlize Theron. The son of “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman is slowly building a very strong body of work, even earning Oscar nominations along the way. “Labor Day” might be the next solid entry. Based on a bestselling book, it’s got a great cast too, with Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin headlining. Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush announced the start of production today.

Here’s the official description of the film: “Based on Joyce Maynard’s novel of the same name, the film is written and directed by Reitman (Young Adult, Up in the Air) who will produce with his partner Helen Estabrook through their Right of Way Films banner, along with the Academy Award-nominated team of Lianne Halfon and Russell Smith (Young Adult, Juno) of Mr. Mudd. Steven Rales (Young Adult, Like Crazy) and Mark Roybal (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, No Country For Old Men) of Indian Paintbrush will serve as executive producers.

Labor Day centers on 13-year-old Henry Wheeler, who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and his mother encounter Frank Chambers, a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home and later is revealed to be an escaped convict. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives.

Winslet (Revolutionary Road, The Reader) stars as Adele Wheeler, the reclusive mother and Josh Brolin (True Grit, No Country For Old Men) is Frank Chambers. Gattlin Griffith (Green Lantern, Changeling) plays Adele’s son Henry. Rounding out the cast is Tom Lipinski (“Suits”) as the young Frank; Clark Gregg (Marvel’s The Avengers) as Henry’s father Gerald; Alexie Gilmore (Definitely, Maybe) plays Marjorie, Gerald’s new wife and Henry’s stepmom; Lucas Hedges (Moonrise Kingdom) plays her son Richard; Brighid Fleming (Gamer) as Henry’s friend Eleanor; James Van Der Beek (“Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23″) as Officer Treadwell; Maika Monroe as young Frank’s sweetheart Mandy; Brooke Smith (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as Adele’s friend Evelyn and Micah Fowler as Evelyn’s son Barry.”

“Labor Day” is currently shooting in Massachusetts. No release date has been set yet.