Comedian actress Gillian Vigam can be seen next in the upcoming Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.”
“The Holdovers” will be helmed by Payne and stars Paul Giamatti, and has been officially sold to Focus Features for a staggering $30 million, which makes it one of the most expensive deals in the festival’s history.
The forthcoming movie reunited Payne and Giamatti teaming up for their first work since the Oscar-winning film “Sidewaysand” (2004) serves as the continuation to 2017’s “Downsizing” with Matt Damon. According to Deadline, Giamatti plays the lead role in the film as Paul Hunham, a widely detested educator at the prep school Deerfield Academy.
The official logline reads, quote, “His non-fans include his students, fellow faculty and headmaster—who all find his pomposity and rigidity exasperating. With no family and nowhere to go over the Christmas holiday in 1970, Paul remained at school to supervise students unable to journey home. After a few days, only one student holdover remains—a troublemaking 15-year-old named Angus, a good student undermined by bad behavior that always threatens to get him expelled. Joining Paul and Angus is Deerfield’s head cook Mary an African-American woman who caters to sons of privilege and whose own son recently was lost in Vietnam. These three very different shipwrecked people form an unlikely Christmas family, sharing comic misadventures during two very snowy weeks in New England, and realizing that none of them is beholden to their past.”
Previously announced cast include, Da’Vine Joy Randolph (”Only Murders In The Building,” “High Fidelity”) as Mary, alongside Carrie Preston, Gillian Vigman, and Tate Donovan. Though the details of their characters are not disclosed. The script is being penned by David Hemingson and Mark Johnson serving as the producer.
“I came across a writing sample for a pilot set in a prep school by David Hemingson. I called him, told him the idea, and he jumped at it. Ever since I worked with Paul in SidewaysI’ve wanted to work with him again, and this role is tailor-made for him,” Payne remarked of collaborating with Giamatti again. “I continue to think now as I did then. I hate to use the term ‘the finest actor of his generation’ because there are so many wonderful actors, but when I worked with him on SidewaysI was astounded by his range. As a director you want actors who can make even bad dialogue work, and he can do that. He can just do anything. I think it’s a matter of time before he gets his Oscar.”
Gillian Vigman is an American actress/comedian/screenwriter. Vigman has portrayed Jack Box’s Wife in numerous Jack in the Box ads. The actress is also a recurring cast member of the comedy series “MADtv.” She appeared in the ABC sitcom “Sons & Daughters,” and had recurring parts in the sitcoms “Suburgatory” and “New Girl.” Vigman has also lent her voice as Dr. T’Ana on the animated series “Star Trek: Lower Decks.” She is popularly known for playing Stephanie, Bradley Cooper’s wife in the “Hangover” trilogy. Gillian Vigman is represented by Trademark Talent.
