Richard Linklater said production on his musical comedy “Merrily We Roll Along” is set to resume soon — pending that the ongoing Hollywood strikes are resolved.
During the Venice Film Festival press conference for his upcoming movie “Hit Man,” Linklater briefly discussed “Merrily,” which will be filmed periodically over the course of 20 years. Principal photography began in 2019 with an initial target release date in 2039, and the film stars Paul Mescal, Beanie Feldstein and Ben Platt.
“Eighteen years from now, we might be done,” Linklater said. “We’re shooting again pretty soon if we can. I’m hopeful like everyone that the strikes will be resolved by then, I think they will.”
Linklater then further elaborated on the writers and actors strikes, which prevented “Hit Man’s” stars — Glen Powell and Adria Arjona — from promoting the movie at the festival.
“Everyone’s feeling it, I think no one’s happy. But that’s kind of the problem. When you’re in an industry and no one’s happy, maybe it’s time to recalibrate and come forward with some things that could be fair to everyone. I think something’s gotta give,” he said. “I’m not really in the middle of it so much. I’m on strike, I’m a proud union member. But I think it will be resolved. It’s kind of one of those crucial moments.”
Linklater also discussed working with Powell on “Hit Man,” with whom he co-wrote the film’s screenplay. “We never quit working on this movie,” Linklater said. “We worked all weekend, we worked all night. We were shooting in New Orleans and we never went out. I think we went out to eat once.”