Show summary Hide summary
Richard Gere and Diana Silvers have officially joined forces for an intimate romantic drama. Director Edward Zwick is bringing the literary phenomenon to screen after nearly a decade away from filmmaking. This chance encounter in Central Park will ignite a passion that transforms both their lives.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Director: Edward Zwick, returning after 8 years with acclaimed filmography including Glory and Blood Diamond
- Lead Actors: Richard Gere (age 76) and Diana Silvers from the film Booksmart in complex lead roles
- Source Material: Adapted from Lisa Halliday‘s 2018 novel praised by The New Yorker and Barack Obama
- Market Launch: FilmNation introducing the project at Cannes market in May for international sales
Zwick Emerges from Eight Year Hiatus with Literary Adaptation
Edward Zwick, the Oscar winner behind Shakespeare in Love as a producer, has been relatively quiet since 2018. His last directorial effort, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, hit theaters eight years ago. But the veteran filmmaker recently completed his memoir, Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions, a candid reflection on Hollywood. Now he channels that introspection into Asymmetry, an intimate portrait of connection between two people at vastly different life stages.
According to Zwick, the novel’s exploration of love resonated deeply with him. The material explores how asymmetry itself can become love, transforming power dynamics into vulnerability and authenticity.
Richard Gere, Diana Silvers star in Edward Zwick’s ‘Asymmetry’ romantic drama
NBC Live streams Celtics-76ers Game 7 and Olivia Rodrigo on SNL tonight
Diana Silvers and Richard Gere Embody Complex Characters
Diana Silvers brings her breakout energy from Booksmart to the role of Alice, a young editorial assistant navigating New York’s literary world. Her character’s ambitions as a writer collide with circumstances beyond her control. Richard Gere portrays Ezra, a world-renowned novelist aged 70, whose public persona masks deep vulnerabilities and unmet emotional needs.
The film marks Gere‘s significant return to dramatic cinema. The actor has appeared in only five films over the past decade, most recently in Paul Schrader‘s Oh, Canada (2024). Yet his sparse recent work suggests careful project selection, making Asymmetry a carefully chosen vehicle.
Literary Phenomenon Gets Cinematic Treatment
The source novel gained extraordinary recognition upon its 2018 release. The New Yorker called it ‘a literary phenomenon.’ The New York Times included Asymmetry in its prestigious list ’15 remarkable books by women shaping the way we read and write fiction in the 21st century.’ Former President Barack Obama personally selected it for his end of year best books list.
| Detail | Information |
| Novel Author | Lisa Halliday, acclaimed writer |
| Release Year | 2018 novel, film TBA |
| Screenwriters | Lisa Halliday, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz |
| Production Companies | FilmNation, Rainmaker Films, Bedford Falls |
“Like so many others I was charmed by Lisa‘s book, not just because it’s emotional, insightful, and very funny, but because it’s about two people who discover that what the world calls asymmetry can in fact have another name: love.”
— Edward Zwick, Director
Veteran Filmmakers Collaborate on Passion Project
Marshall Herskovitz, Zwick‘s frequent collaborator and co-founder of Bedford Falls Company, also produced the film. Lisa Halliday herself contributed to the screenplay adaptation, ensuring her novel’s singular voice translated to screen. This collaborative approach reflects their shared commitment to honoring the source material’s emotional intelligence and literary sophistication.
Clay Pecorin of Rainmaker Films joined as co-producer and co-financier. FilmNation Entertainment, led by Chief Creative Officer Stacey Snider, secured international sales rights and will shepherd the project through Cannes market next month. CAA Media Finance Group will co-represent domestic rights.
Will Edward Zwick’s Comeback Challenge Industry Expectations?
Zwick‘s 45 year directing career spans from Glory to The Last Samurai to Blood Diamond. Yet critics have not always embraced his classical sensibilities in contemporary cinema. Asymmetry represents his boldest statement yet about the nature of human connection and power imbalance. Can an 8 year absence reignite his critical reputation? Will audiences embrace a story that refuses clear moral categories? The answers emerge when FilmNation unveils the project to international buyers this month at the legendary French film festival.
Sources
- Deadline – Exclusive announcement of casting and production details
- World of Reel – Analysis of Zwick‘s career return and source material acclaim
- Screen Daily – FilmNation sales and Cannes market positioning
