Nicholas Hoult, Danny Strong, and More Celebrate the Life of An American Literary Great

Despite the pouring rain, last evening saw a generous gathering of film insiders, literary figures, and general fans of noted writer and director Danny Strong (of Lee Daniels’ The Butler, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2, and Fox’s Empire, to name a few) turn out for the opening of Rebel in the Rye, the latest biopic on the life of prolific American writer J.D. Salinger. Starring Nicholas Hoult as Salinger himself, the film brought together a mix of on-the-rise and established talent, with costars including Kevin Spacey as Salinger’s university professor and mentor, Whit Burnett; Sarah Paulson as his longtime literary agent, Dorothy Olding; and Zoey Deutch as his love interest, socialite Oona O’Neill. Though Salinger has long been a subject of fascination for the American public, Strong noted that the majority of on-screen narratives have historically focused on elements more shrouded in mystery—namely, Salinger’s writing persona and hermetic later life—and he, in turn, was interested in illuminating the backstory of a younger, more nuanced character.