Clint Eastwood Directing ‘Juror #2’

Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette to Star in Clint Eastwood’s ‘Juror #2’

The legal thriller will see the 92-year-old filmmaker in the legal world, which sees a juror with a conundrum.

(L to R) Director Clint Eastwood and Andy Garcia on the set of 'The Mule.' Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette both had new moves out this past weekend –– Hoult in horror comedy ‘Renfield’ and Collette starring in ‘Mamma Mafia’ –– but they are now busy making deals to star for Clint Eastwood in a future movie.

According to Giant Freakin’ Robot, the respected actor/director is aiming to make legal thriller ‘Juror #2’ as his next film after 2021’s Western-flavored ‘Cry Macho’. He starred in that film, but it appears he’s ready to just direct this one for regular studio home Warner Bros. (though we could still see him popping up as a grumpy judge).

A confirmation from Deadline, though, cautions that the movie has yet to receive an official, final greenlight, but is close enough that Eastwood is planning the schedule for it, especially now that potential schedule clashes with his chosen stars have been figured out.

After the less-than-enthusiastic response to ‘Macho’, he’ll be aiming to make sure that this next endeavor is a big win. By the time he starts the cameras rolling, Eastwood will be 93 (the film is scheduled to start in June), so this could be his final film, at least as director. Which is not to cast aspersions on the legend’s health, more that he’s looking to gear down as director. We’re not going to count him out, though –– would you want to tell Clint Eastwood it’s time to retire?

Clint Eastwood in 'The Mule.' Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

What’s the story of the new movie?

Written by Jonathan Abrams, ‘Juror #2’ will follow a member of the jury of a murder trial who suspects he may have had some part in the victim’s death –– in fact, possibly killed them himself in a vehicular accident –– and is caught in a moral conundrum of whether to use his secret to sway the jury away and protect himself or turn himself in to the justice system he is participating in. Hoult will be playing the lead role of the juror, with Collette as the district attorney on the case.

Oscar-winner Eastwood had reportedly been weighing several scripts and in recent months zeroed in on this film and began having talks with A-list talent to star, finally landing on Hoult and Collette.

Nicholas Hoult and Awkwafina in 'Renfield,' directed by Chris McKay.

What’s next for Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette?

The two actors are typically busy, with Hoult sticking with vampire territory, and currently at work on Robert Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu’ alongside Bill Skarsgård and Lily-Rose Depp. He’ll also be back for a third season of Hulu’s comedy drama series ‘The Great’, has a voice in next year’s animated ‘Garfield’ movie and is attached to Justin Kurzel’s next movie, ‘The Order’.

Collette, meanwhile, is on TV screens in Prime Video’s ‘The Power’ and voices an overprotective mother in ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’, due out in June. For 2024, she’ll be seen in Bong Joon Ho’s sci-fi drama ‘Mickey 17’ opposite Robert Pattinson.