Wishful Thinking

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Character Study: Half Brothers September 8, 2021

The Literary Press Group teamed up with author Bill Stenson to dream up a film adaptation of his new novella Half Brothers (Mother Tongue Publishing)—contained in his new book of stories—about the lives of two brothers left unchanneled by parental review. Read on for more about the book and our casting choices, including none other than the brilliant Frances McDormand. 

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Our Character Study column takes the CanLit books you love and re-imagines them as Hollywood movies      
DIRECTED by Lasse Hallstrom of Chocolat and What's Eating Gilbert Grape?  

CAST
ENNIS FERGUSON is played by COLM MEANEY (The Commitments, There's Always Hope) Colm fits the Irish heritage, the potential for meanness and solipsistic behaviour. No one is better suited.  

DORA FERGUSON is played by FRANCES MCDORMAND (Nomadland, Three Billboards) Frances McDormand can play vulnerable, but knows when to call the shots.  

DERMOT FERGUSON is played by DANIEL RADCLIFFE (Harry Potter, Beast of Burden) Daniel does well with playing Dermot, a young man who has been raised to think of himself first. Tough with a transparent shell.  

WILL SPOONER is played by FREDDIE HIGHMORE (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Good Doctor).  Freddie brings his maturing innocence to the screen. Will's character is mostly that of a vulnerable young half brother who through his own devices matures into a self-sufficient, mostly objective soul.  

TONY HEDGEWATER is played by CHRISTOPHER GUEST (Best in Show) No actor can rattle on in his own world with little consideration for those around him like Christopher Guest. He makes you stand back and watch.  

ABOUT THE BOOK

Half Brothers is a masterly and unsentimental novella about the lives of two brothers left unchanneled by parental review. One brother is tough and likes to fight, the other does not. One is the father’s favourite and the other hides when he can. But in an extraordinary reversal of roles, and as the years pass, readers ultimately learn which one has the true grit.