After nearly a decade in development, The Trainer from controversial director Tony Kaye is finally coming together. Taylour Paige (Zola) has signed on to star in the dark comedy, which is nearing production. The film takes place over the course of eight days and follows a down-on-his-luck fitness expert named Jack.
Although plot details are sparse, the film promises “sleep-deprived chaos” as Jack takes a delirious leap towards fame and fortune while struggling to achieve his idea of the American dream. The film has been compared to Michael Bay‘s own dark comedy on the American dream, 2013’s Pain & Gain.
Kaye previously directed American History X – which went through an infamous battle over artistic control that led to Kaye requesting his name be removed from the movie entirely, taking out full-page ads denouncing producers and star Edward Norton, and filing a $200 million lawsuit against the Directors Guild – has become Hollywood folklore and basically destroyed Kaye’s career.
The only film he’s since released is 2011 drama Detachment – in which he again had issues with his cast – and 2006 documentary Lake Of Fire. He did film crime drama Black Water Transit in 2009 starring Laurence Fishburne, but it remains unreleased.
So news about The Trainer finally getting made leaking out over the last few months is pretty big news in the film world. The script has been written by Vito Schnabel and Jeff Solomon, with the former also planning to star in the film alongside Paige and Julia Fox (Uncut Gems).
Paige broke out as the star of 2020’s Zola, which was surely the first film ever based on a Twitter thread. She will next be seen starring in Lena Dunham‘s comedy Sharp Stick and Katie Aselton‘s Mack & Rita, while she’s currently filming roles in The Toxic Avenger and Brothers.
Production on The Trainer is currently scheduled to begin in early April. There will be plenty in the industry interested to see how it goes.
#Peace.Love.TheTrainer
