‘Rebel in the Rye’ Trailer: Everyone’s Favorite Reclusive Writer Gets a Biopic
J.D. Salinger’s total rejection of public life has kept him in the public eye for decades. The life and history of the notoriously reclusive author of The Catcher in the Rye has been the subject of endless speculation and investigation; a few years ago, it inspired a documentary (one of the worst I have ever seen) that was supposed to offer brand-new insights into the reasons he went into seclusion after his novel became one of the most acclaimed books in American history. (SPOILER ALERT: It did not.) Now there’s a fictional version of his story coming to theaters, called Rebel in the Rye; the trailer is above.
Here’s the official synopsis:
The world of legendary writer J. D. Salinger is brought vividly to life in this revealing look at the experiences that shaped one of the most renowned, controversial, and enigmatic authors of our time. Set amidst the colorful backdrop of mid-20th century New York City, Rebel in the Rye follows a young Salinger (Nicholas Hoult) as he struggles to find his voice, pursues a love affair with famed socialite Oona O'Neill (Zoey Deutch), and fights on the frontlines of World War II. It’s these experiences that will inform the creation of his masterpiece, The Catcher in the Rye, bringing him overnight fame (and notoriety) and leading him to withdraw from the public eye for the rest of his life. Costarring Kevin Spacey and Sarah Paulson, Rebel in the Rye offers a tantalizing window into the life and times of a little-understood genius who broke the rules and redefined American literature.
There’s a lot of Spacey in the trailer, though I don’t know if his part is as large as this trailer makes it seem (possibly because he’s clearly the biggest name in the cast). Rebel in the Rye opens right at the start of awards season, on September 15.