Gosling, Johansson, Labeouf Want The Wettest County

Despite the movie being dropped from Columbia’s schedule, THR reports that actors Shia LaBeouf, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Dano and Ryan Gosling are all spreading the word to keep The Wettest Country in the World up and running. The film is based on a novel written by Matt Bondurant, and is a period piece that covers one of the most significant times in American history.

Amongst the young actors supporting the project, there are seven Oscar and Golden Globe nominations between them. It should also be noted that none of the aforementioned stars have officially signed on for anything but have no issue with Red Wagon using their names in its pitches to the suits.

Set in the American South during the Great Depression, The Wettest Country in the World is a family crime saga about three brothers running a gang, brewing and selling liquor. The book tracks a parallel story about a writer named Sherwood Anderson who was trailing the bootlegging phenomenon, and reporting on the moonshine trade while researching his 1936 novel Kit Brandon. John Hillcoat is attached to direct the piece while Red Wagon is shopping the project around as a potential indie.

What do you think of the actors sticking up for this project? Do you expect more actors to rally together to keep smaller films alive?