Keir Gilchrist, Zoe Kravitz, Lauren Graham Join Funny Story

The coming of age dramedy, It’s Kind of a Funny story will start production early next month in New York City, and in preparation they’ve finally cast the role of its main character. The film centers on a 16 year old boy who suffers from a nervous breakdown, and eventually checks himself into a mental facility. That role has been cast along with several other supporting parts, which will include the addition of actors Keir Gilchrist, Zoe Kravitz, and Lauren Graham.

Here’s the recent developments from the film via the press release:

The comedy-drama has been adapted by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck from Ned Vizzini’s 2006 novel of the same name; 16-year-old Craig (Gilchrist), stressed out from the demands of being a teenager, checks himself into a mental health clinic. There he learns that the youth ward is closed – and finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Zach Galifianakis), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also quickly drawn to another 16-year-old, Noelle (Emma Roberts).

With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him, Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up. Viola Davis will play Dr. Minerva, the adult ward’s staff psychiatrist; Zoe Kravitz will portray Nia, Craig’s longtime crush; Aasif Mandvi is cast as Dr. Mahmoud, a hospital psychiatrist; and Lauren Graham and Jim Gaffigan play Craig’s parents, Lynn and George.

Gilchrist has the whole awkward teen thing down to a science, so he’s definitely the perfect choice for the lead in this film, and as a fan of Zoe Kravitz, it’s good to see her expanding into more feature film work. As for Lauren Graham, she will always be the perma-mom actress in my eyes, and she can thank Gilmore Girls for that.

What do you think of the cast for It’s Kind of a Funny Story?