EXCLUSIVE: Oscar winners Ellen Burstyn and Taika Waititi are set to star in Kornél Mundruczó’s feature drama Place to Be.

Written by Kata Wéber (Pieces Of A Woman, White God), Place to Be follows the unlikely friendship of an
elderly woman [Burstyn] and middle-aged man [Waititi] as they travel from Chicago to New York to return a lost racing pigeon home. The feature will shoot at Disney Studios Australia in Sydney this month.

Hungarian-born Mundruczó is known for his auteurial breakthrough film, White God, and Venice Best Film and Oscar-nominated Netflix feature, Pieces Of A Woman.

Pic is produced by Jomon Thomas (Monkey Man, Hotel Mumbai), Megan Wynn (Together, Poker Face), and Alexander Rodnyansky (Loveless, Beanpole). EPs are Natalya Pavchinskaya (S’YA Concept), Stuart Manashil, Pankaj Mamtora (Lonestar Films), Kanesh Mohana Sundaram (GVKM Elephant Pictures), Ashley
Levinson, Sam Levinson, Viktoria Petranyi, David Edelstein and the late Kevin Turen.

Mundruczó said, “I have always been interested in the true nature of coincidence. The way certain unforeseen encounters can turn out to be fateful events for us. Place To Be is about the absurdity of how, over time, a person becomes invisible in their own life. But losing visibility does not necessarily mean losing oneself. In fact, it can lead us and those who meet us to a deeper understanding.”

After working with her on Pieces Of A Woman, Mundruczó said: “I had every desire to direct the legendary Ellen Burstyn in a leading role, not only because I admire her amazing talent, but also because the time has finally come to celebrate older women on screen. With the immensely talented Taika Waititi, I hope I have found the perfect accomplice for this exciting journey.”

Burstyn said: “It still surprises and delights me to be working at my age and I am thrilled to be going on this ‘road trip’ with Taika and Kornel. To return to beautiful Australia is a special treat indeed.”

Waititi added “This is unlike any role I’ve ever done and I’ve always adored Ellen’s work. All of us are just navigating this weird journey of getting older and figuring out who the hell we are along the way, so when I read the script, I was deeply moved by Kata’s words and Kornel’s vision. Growing up in New Zealand, it was just me and my mum—this tiny dynamic duo against the world. When this role came along, I thought, ‘Oh my god, it’s like me and mum all over again, except we’ve both aged several decades overnight and Ellen gets to be the Thelma to my Louise.’ Though I’m still not entirely sure which one of us drives off the cliff in this scenario.”

WME Independent is handling international sales. Film is supported by Screen NSW Made in NSW fund.

Burstyn is represented by UTA and MGMT. Entertainment. Waititi is represented by Manage-ment, CAA and Gail Cowan Management. Kornél and Wéber repped by WME and NOVO.