Brain on Fire (film)

Brain on Fire is a 2016 American-Canadian-Irish biographical drama film directed and written by Gerard Barrett, based on Susannah Cahalan's memoir Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Jenny Slate, Thomas Mann, Tyler Perry, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Richard Armitage. Principal photography began on July 13, 2015, in Vancouver, British Columbia. It had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2016.

Synopsis

Susannah Cahalan, a journalist at the New York Post, has serious health issues, including seizures and hearing voices. Over the following weeks her condition worsens and she quickly goes from violence to catatonia. After numerous misdiagnoses and a hospitalization, a doctor gives her a diagnosis with the hope she can rebuild her life.^[2] One day Cahalan wakes up in the hospital with no memory at all of her previous month.^[3]

Cast

• Chloë Grace Moretz as Susannah Cahalan^[2]
• Jenny Slate^[4]
• Thomas Mann as Stephen^[4]
• Tyler Perry as Richard^[5]
• Carrie-Anne Moss as Rhona Nack^[6]
• Richard Armitage as Tom Cahalan^[6]
• Claudio Encarnacion Montero as Jaden^[2]
• Alex Zahara as Allen
• Jenn MacLean-Angus as Giselle

Production

On May 1, 2014, Deadline reported that Charlize Theron had acquired the film rights to the Susannah Cahalan's 2012 memoir Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness.^[7] Dakota Fanning was set to play Cahalan, a young woman who one day wakes up in a hospital with no memory of the events of the previous month.^[7][3] Theron would produce along with Beth Kono and A.J. Dix through her banner Denver and Delilah Productions.^[7] On January 22, 2015, Gerard Barrett was set to write and direct the adaptation, while Rob Merilees of Foundation Features would also produce and finance the film.^[8] London-based Mister Smith Entertainment sold the film to international distributors at 2015 Berlin Film Festival.^[9] Will Poulter was added to the cast on February 4, 2015, to play the boyfriend of Cahalan.^[10] On May 26, 2015, Thomas Mann and Jenny Slate were reportedly in talks to join the film, where Mann would play Cahalan's boyfriend, replacing Poulter.^[4] On June 26, 2015, it was announced that Fanning left the project due to scheduling issues, and Chloë Grace Moretz replaced her for the lead role.^[2] On July 7, 2015, it was announced that Broad Green Pictures came on board to produce and finance the film and to distribute the film in the United States, while Lindsay Macadam would also produce along with producing partner Merilees.^[11] On July 16, 2015, Carrie-Anne Moss and Richard Armitage were cast as Cahalan's parents, Rhona Nack and Tom Cahalan, respectively.^[6] On July 20, 2015, Tyler Perry joined the film to play Richard, Cahalan's boss at the New York Post.^[5]

Filming

Principal photography on the film began on July 13, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia.^[12][11][6] Moretz was spotted filming at the Vancouver General Hospital.^[13] On July 18, Moretz was filming a scene of near-miss by a taxicab and the Vancouver street was transformed into Manhattan.^[14] Production on the film concluded on August 10, 2015.^[15]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2016.^[16][17]

References

External links

• Official website
• Brain on Fire at the Internet Movie Database