Nicholas Hoult to Play J.D. Salinger in Upcoming Biopic

By Anne Cohen August 31, 2015

The phonies in Hollywood are making a movie about J.D. Salinger.

Who’s playing him? Nicholas Hoult.

What’s it called? “Rebel in the Rye.”

Who’s directing? “Empire“‘s Danny Strong.

Who’s writing the script? Also Danny Strong — based on a 2011 Salinger biography by Kenneth Slawenski.

Why do we care? The celebrated author was born Jerome David Salinger to one Sol Salinger, kosher cheese seller, and Miriam Salinger (who, while not born Jewish, definitely considered herself one of the Tribe).

Let’s just hope it’s not lousy.

]

Anne Cohen was the Forward’s deputy digital media editor. When she’s not looking for the secret Jewish history of Voodoo in New Orleans, or making lists about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she writes for The Assimilator. She graduated from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism with an M.S. magazine concentration in 2012.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO