Penelope Cruz is set to have some sort of a mid-life crisis in the new drama film Layover, a planned big screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by Lisa Zeidner. Toni Kalem – veteran actress on The Sopranos – has written the film and is also on board to direct.
The story revolves around a traveling saleswoman named Claire Newbold who, after the death of her only child and discovery that her husband is cheating, decides she’s had it with her mundane life. Soon she begins to live as a sort of con artist, sneaking into hotel rooms and seducing younger men while she’s at it. Eventually Claire begins to think she can even “read” into the souls of others the more she becomes in tune with herself.
One of the film’s producers, Tatiana Kelly, is particularly excited about the female talent not only in front of the screen, but behind it as well:
“Toni Kalem’s beautifully layered adaptation of Lisa Zeidner’s acclaimed book is a provocative blend of humor and heartbreak,” Kelly said in a statement. “With the addition of the incomparable Penelope Cruz to our team, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase such strong female talent both in front of and behind the camera.”
There was no date set for Layover just yet, but Fortitude International (the film’s current funder) is planning to introduce the project to foreign buyers during Cannes next month.